“I think a lot of what we do here is still one of the best kept secrets in Long Beach,” JFCS (Jewish Family & Childrens' Services) Executive Director, Kathryn Miles, exclaims. “People don't realize that we serve non-Jewish clients, and people don't realize that we serve children all the way up to seniors.”
JFCS is a non-profit social service agency that provides affordable professional mental health services for people of all ages. They offer mental health counseling – on a sliding
scale – at their offices, located on the Weinberg Campus at 3801 E. Willow St. in Long Beach. There, individuals, families, and couples come seeking help for a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, and divorce. The only areas that JFCS doesn't handle on-site are substance abuse cases and instances that require prescription medication. In those cases, clients are referred out to other professionals in the community.
JFCS was established in Long Beach in 1957, as a result of the hard work of the National Council of Jewish Women. In 1961, they established their first support groups, one for women dealing with marital problems and one for adolescent girls. In the 1980s, JFCS extended their reach with the
introduction of programs specifically designed for children.
Today, JFCS offers a broad range of support groups, ranging from bereavement support to caregiver support to support for young adults in their 20s and 30s. Beyond one-on-one counseling and facilitating support groups, JFCS also offers a no-cost 14-week class for women who are victims of domestic violence, and a free therapeutic art circle for female victims of trauma,which meets monthly.
[ PROFILE | Kathryn Miles ]
Kathryn Miles
Getting The Word Out
JFCS Executive Director Kathryn Miles wants to get the word out on the best-kept secret in Long Beach