JFSA heads in new direction

MICHELLE DODEK

The Jewish Family Services Agency (JFSA) has a new executive director. One year ago, Joseph Kahn-Tietz, who had been at the helm of JFSA for nine years, took a job in San Francisco. Knowing that the agency was in the capable hands of 18-year veteran of JFSA, Charlotte Katzen, for the duration of the search, the board of directors took their time to find the right match in a new leader. On March 23, Joel Kaplan came from Cincinnati to begin his work at Vancouver's JFSA.

Kaplan's experience in the Jewish community speaks to his understanding and dedication. He began his career in 1974, working with teens at the Boston Jewish community centre. In 1977, he took a break from the American Jewish community and turned his energy to working in Israel. During the course of those two years in Israel, he engaged in what he recalled with a smile as, "nitty, gritty social work."

Trained in an area of social work focused on community organization, Kaplan returned to the United States in 1979 to take up a position at the JCC in St. Louis, followed by a job in Houston. His last JCC position was as the executive director of the Nashville JCC in 1994. After 20 years, it was time for different challenges.

Kaplan's undergraduate degree is in Judaic studies, which may account for his keen interest in working with the Jewish community. For five years, he was top dog at both the federation and Jewish family services in Flint, Mich. Following that experience, he made Cincinnati his home. After working for a few years at the Cincinnati JFSA, he branched out into consulting work, focusing on the nonprofit sector.

Meanwhile, Kaplan's wife, Roz, worked as the chief operations officer at the Cincinnati JCC. She oversaw that JCC's transition from a small location to a storefront and then into a 150,000-square-foot building. Once that project was finished, Kaplan made the decision to again take on a new challenge himself, and relocate to Vancouver. He has never lived in Canada before.

After working for many years in the American Midwest, Kaplan said that one of the appealing features of the move to Vancouver is the diversity of the city. The natural beauty and surroundings don't hurt, either. "Roz and I spent so much time and money trying to get away on vacation when we lived in the Midwest. We think we could spend at least four years of vacations just exploring this area! We're pretty adventuresome people," said Kaplan with a big smile.

He is also excited about the opportunities here at the JFSA and in the community. "It's time to change the conversation with all of the stakeholders," he commented. He is planning a "rebranding" of the JFSA to become a nurturing entity for all socio-economic levels. The objective is to encompass a greater mandate and reach more of the community than it currently does.

"It's not to detract from anything that has been done in the past," assured Kaplan. "We do a good job with the most vulnerable in our population, but I want the JFSA to be on the tip of the tongues of every rabbi, every Jewish person that is referring someone or needs help." He mentioned a part of the Jewish population that he thinks is under-serviced: not the most needy, but those who do not fit into the mainstream of the Jewish community. This group, according to Kaplan, includes singles, some people with disabilities, single parents, gays and lesbians and others who may feel marginalized but are still crucial elements of the community. JFSA needs to reach these people and provide services like counselling, he said. Along with this shift in services will have to come a rethinking of the fee scale and charging clients who have the means to pay, as well as a diversification of facilities, he added.

"We will partner with agencies and possibly with psychologists who have office space we can use or doctors to provide more comprehensive care. We would like to create a social arm for kids and youth."

Kaplan's goal is to reach the majority of the Jewish community, which means meeting the needs of families. Parents need help raising their children, coping with the pressures of life and aging parents, as well as perhaps strategies around dealing with their children's interfaith relationships. Although this segment of the community is "overprogrammed," according to Kaplan, these important social issues are not being well enough serviced by the community.

"I like to do an exercise with my staff. I ask them whether they will refer their family members or friends to the agency. If so, I feel we're getting somewhere," said Kaplan. In order to reach all areas of the Jewish population, Kaplan said he would like to form stronger associations with the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCCGV). A partnership with the JCCGV could lead to more support for children in the day camps, preschool and day care, as well as so many others the JCCGV serves, who may not think of using the JFSA for help.

A facet of Kaplan's plan lies in the establishment of what he calls a menu for every department of the JFSA. "The menu changes the conversation with all of our stakeholders by coming with goods and services and confidence in what we need to accomplish," explained Kaplan. The menu acts as a selling tool for the JFSA, he said. When JFSA meets with corporate sponsors, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver or the United Way, for example, the agency will be clear about its mandate.

For more information about JFSA, go to www.jfsa.ca or call 604-257-5151.

Michelle Dodek is a freelance writer and a mother of two young children.

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