By Julie Loftis One lesson has become increasingly clear at Jewish Family Services( JFS): Community needs never stop evolving.

From rising anxiety among children and teens to the growing needs of older adults and caregivers, the community’ s challenges continue to evolve, requiring new approaches to care and support. As Charlotte’ s Jewish community continues to grow, so do the needs of the people who call it home. This fall, JFS will begin a new chapter, expanding its work to ensure individuals and families have access to the support they need at every stage of life.

After six years of dedicated service, Rachel Green, director of Programs and Services, concluded her tenure with JFS to pursue an opportunity with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, the national organization that supports Jewish social services agencies throughout North America.

Rachel’ s impact on JFS and our Jewish community at large has been significant. During her time with the agency, she played a central role in expanding programs, strengthening service delivery, and helping JFS respond to emerging community needs. Her leadership helped shape

many of the very initiatives families, older adults, caregivers, and individuals rely on today.

While Rachel’ s departure marks the end of an important chapter, it has also created an opportunity for JFS to rethink how it delivers services in an increasingly complex environment. Rather than simply filling the position as it previously existed, JFS has created a new leadership structure, tailored to better support both current needs and future growth.

The first step is the creation of a new Director of Behavioral Health position. Effective Aug. 3, Courtney Lawrence, one of JFS’ s current therapists, assumed the role and now oversees the organization’ s mental health counseling services and behavioral health programming. She will lead efforts to expand access to care, strengthen clinical services and advance new initiatives outlined in JFS’ s recently adopted strategic plan.

For many families, mental health concerns have become one of the defining challenges of our time. National data continues to show increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress among both youth and adults. Within the Jewish community, concerns about stress, belonging, identity, and

safety have become increasingly prominent as well.

The second step is the newly established Chief Program Officer position. While behavioral health continues to grow, so too do the agency’ s services related to aging, food insecurity, caregiver support, case management, Holocaust survivor services, and community outreach.

The Chief Program Officer will oversee the agency’ s comprehensive portfolio of programs and services, ensuring quality, accountability, strategic growth, staff development, and maintaining strong partnerships throughout the community. The new role reflects the increasing complexity of nonprofit service delivery, primarily, JFS’ s commitment to thoughtful planning as well as measurable impact.

Taken together, these developments represent more than a staffing transition. They reflect a larger organizational shift toward specialization, innovation, and preparedness for the future. For an agency that began in 1980 with just two employees, growth has always been driven by one guiding principle: respond to what the community needs most. Today, that means strengthening mental health supports, investing in program quality, and building the infrastructure necessary to

serve future generations.

The faces and titles may change over time, but our mission remains the constant. As JFS looks ahead, this new structure

will ensure the agency remains responsive, relevant and best positioned to address whatever comes next.