FEGS services find a new operator

FEGS services find a new operator
Photo courtesy of the Jewish Board

As one human services agency bows out, another equally experienced non-profit organization will assume control in providing important services.

On Monday, June 1, $75 million of essential programs and services were transferred from Federation Employment & Guidance Services to the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services.

FEGS declared bankruptcy this past March and the recent programs shift represents the largest group of programs to be transferred from FEGS.

With a total annual budget approximating $250 million, the Jewish Board will now become the largest human services agency in New York City.

Currently serving over 5,800 Bronx clients, The Jewish Board provides a wide range of services including care management services, mental health clinics, preventive services, an emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors, supported housing and apartment treatment programs for adults with mental illness, and residential services for adolescents.

The transfer includes such Bronx-based FEGS programs as Burnside Residence on Burnside Avenue, White Plains Community Residence on White Plains Road, Kingsbridge Road Community Residence, supported apartment and permanent housing throughout the borough, as well as Bronx clinic and Bronx personalized recovery oriented services, both located on Jerome Avenue.

In January, after a thorough internal selection process, the New York State Office of Mental Health selected the Jewish Board as the recipient of behavioral health services previously provided by FEGS.

OMH determined the safest, least disruptive way to achieve this was having an experienced agency replace FEGS’ operation of all behavioral health services.

For more than 140 years, the Jewish Board has been aiding individuals in realizing their potential and to live as independently as possible.

Each year, this non-profit organization serves more than 35,000 people of all ages throughout the five boroughs and on a 125-acre Westchester campus by addressing all aspects of a person’s life including mental and physical health, family, housing, employment and education.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague organization, which has worked for 80 years to provide services for some of New York’s neediest, but we are pleased we were able to save these valuable programs both for the people served and the staff employed by them,” David Rivel, Jewish Board CEO, expressed. “We are grateful for the support of New York State and the UJA-Federation for making this unprecedented transfer of the scope and range of these services as smooth and straightforward as possible.”

In addition to this transfer, the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services has announced a new branding campaign to reflect its heritage, communicate its present position and support its vision for the future.

The agency will be known as the Jewish Board with its tagline, “Health and Human Services for All New Yorkers” and a new logo of a stylized skyline of the five boroughs.

Partnered with SJI Associates, a NYC branding and design firm, the Jewish Board researched and developed a revised name to help establish a more powerful and recognizable brand.

“By conveying our organization’s commitment to innovation while maintaining our mission, we want our brand to reflect our base of support and attract new donors and volunteers,” Rivel explained.

According to the Jewish Board, a new website is currently in development and is slated to be launched within the next few months.