Jewish Family Service provides confidential, professional counseling services for families, couples, individuals and groups experiencing a variety of problem areas. Treatment areas include addiction, domestic abuse, depression, panic and anxiety disorders and adjustment difficulties. Relationship enhancement skills are also provided to improve communication, parenting, self-esteem and general quality of life. Information and referral to community resources are also offered.

Jewish Family Service is a participating provider with many insurance companies and accepts Medicare and Medicaid. Sliding fee scale is also offered based on family size and income. Our social workers are licensed clinical social workers in the State of Pennsylvania. Jewish Family Service is accredited for outpatient mental health service by the Council on Accreditation.

Melissa was referred to JFS when she was 15 years old. She was in foster care. Her mother was unable to care for her and her two younger sisters and she was allegedly sexually abused by one of her mother’s boyfriends. Early counseling was difficult for Melissa, she became depressed and became a behavior challenge at her foster home. About a year later, Melissa began running away, skipping school and was later found out to be smoking marijuana. As the behavior problems escalated, the relationship she had with her foster parents began to break down. She returned to counseling, however, would end up being moved from foster home to foster home and would stop going to school.

Through the years Melissa would contact me and re-start counseling for multiple reasons including substance issues, family issues, and educational challenges. Each time she would stop attending sessions when the internal demands of change would overwhelm her.

A year and a half ago, this time with the goal of staying on course, Melissa would return for help. In addition to feeling the old draws, she was struggling with a relationship and was living in an unstable living situation. Although her road was long, through counseling and a lot of hard work she was able to overcome her challenges and reach her goals.

Short-term financial assistance for rent, utilities, food or other emergency needs is provided for individuals and families experiencing financial difficulties. The Holiday Assistance Program ensures that the beauty of the Jewish Holidays is shared throughout the year.

JFS offers education and enrichment through lectures, guest speakers, workshops on topics relevant to family life, Jewish identity and current issues. Education and support groups provide educational, supportive, and preventive services to improve emotional well-being, and promote self-sufficiency, personal growth, development, resilience, and wellness.