History of JFCS
Celebrating 90 Years of Healing and Helping in Maricopa County
Since 1935, Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) has been a pillar of support in the Greater Phoenix community, offering compassionate care and life-changing services. Founded during the Great Depression by a group of courageous Jewish women, JFCS was established to provide aid to friends and neighbors in need. What began as a small effort to uplift the community has grown into a comprehensive social services agency that continues to improve lives every day.
A Legacy of Impact
For 90 years, JFCS has been at the forefront of behavioral health care, family support and community services. Highlights of our rich history include:
- Pioneering child welfare and fighting against child sexual abuse.
- Leading in adoption services.
- Establishing Arizona’s first nursing home for elderly Jewish residents.
- Supporting the resettlement of Russian Jewish immigrants.
- Launching the award-winning Helping Hands program to assist families in financial crises.
Our legacy is rooted in a commitment to serving individuals and families of all faiths, helping them navigate challenges and build brighter futures.
As we celebrate 90 years, JFCS remains dedicated to its mission of strengthening the community through quality behavioral health, healthcare and social services. Guided by our core Jewish values, we continue to adapt and grow to meet the evolving needs of our community.
EXCERPT FROM THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE BOOK:
The Year 1935 represented a frightening, uncertain time -- six years into the Great Depression....
But it was at this precise, uncertain moment, that a courageous group of
Jewish women in Phoenix decided to reach outward - to create a social
service agency to help those in need. These dedicated women pledged themselves
to share what little they had to help other families survive.
They laid the bedrock for Jewish Family & Children's Service in Phoenix, a social service agency that over the years, would change the face of child welfare in Arizona; lead the fight against child sexual abuse; distinguish itself in adoptions, including the adoption of Native American children; create the first nursing home for elderly Jews in Arizona; be a major force in the resettlement of Russian Jews; create the award-winning Helping Hands program for temporary financial assistance to families in trouble; and receive national recognition for its outstanding record of community service..."
JFCS: 75 YEARS HELPING AND HEALING
Written by Stephanie McBride-Schreiner
Introduction and Editing by Jana Bommersbach
To request a copy of the full book, email us today.
We invite you to become a part of this rich legacy by giving or volunteering.
