Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS) has spent more than 170 years supporting the community a commitment that continues to grow. Courtney Owen, Director of Programs at JFCS, explains that the organization’s mission centers on providing comprehensive support to people of all ages: “Our goal is to support individuals and families to build sustainability and create a safety net for anyone who needs it,” she says. Although the organization has Jewish roots, Owen emphasizes that its work is universal: “While we have ‘Jewish’ in our name, we are here to serve everyone and to build a broader, safer community.”
Their services address basic needs such as housing, food, and access to public benefits. They also operate a mobile program that delivers food and clothing across the city. In the area of mental health, they offer counseling, mobile therapy, and art therapy: “We do counseling, mobile therapy, art therapy… a full range,” Owen describes. The organization also provides support for Holocaust survivors, offers programs for youth, families, and older adults, and develops initiatives for neurodiverse individuals and the LGBTQ+ community. “We help create safe spaces and offer trainings and programs for the broader community,” she adds.
Open doors: a comprehensive care model
A key component of their work is the service center in Northeast Philadelphia, where users can access multiple forms of support in one place thanks to collaborations with other organizations: “Someone can come in for one need, and from that moment they gain access to all the services in the building,” Owen explains. Many people arrive seeking food assistance and end up receiving help with housing, counseling, or public benefits. “Once you walk through the door, you don’t need to know what else is available. We help connect you to every resource,” she says.
Partnerships, expansion, and leadership challenges
JFCS Philadelphia maintains a collaborative approach with other organizations and is always seeking new partners and volunteers. “We can’t do this work alone,” Owen states. From her leadership position, she notes that one of her main challenges is sustaining growth and adapting to the rising demand: “The need is greater than the capacity.”
Recent expansion includes the merger with Abramson Senior Care, which will strengthen services for older adults, as well as the continued growth of the Northeast service center. These partnerships aim to “elevate, expand, innovate, and grow” to reach more people and respond effectively to emerging needs.
Philly Gives: an unexpected boost
JFCS is part of the Philly Gives initiative that deeply moved the team. “It was truly a surprise, but we were very honored,” Owen recalls. Beyond the financial support, she highlights the recognition: “The visibility and acknowledgment of the work we do in the community was really touching.”
Resources from the initiative are directed toward covering urgent needs, particularly food assistance, a challenge worsened by rising prices and recent changes to SNAP. “If someone calls us and says, ‘I don’t have food,’ we can send them a card so they can buy what they need today,” she notes. Demand continues to grow: “We’re getting many more calls from people who need help accessing food,” she adds, pointing out that many families face difficult decisions between eating or paying for medication.
Owen summarizes the spirit of the organization with a clear message: “We want people to know that we are a safe and accessible space. We focus on supporting basic needs. If you have a need, want to feel more connected to the community, or want to volunteer, we’re here to help.”
That is our goal. We want people to know that we are a welcoming and safe space, and that we shape our programs to ensure that there are very few barriers to accessing services. It’s simply a matter of calling or visiting the Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center, located at 345 Montgomery Avenue in Bala Cynwyd, Philadelphia, and connecting with any service and the doors will open to many others.
Just call or visit to connect with their services. She concludes with an invitation: To request assistance, JFCS offers two options, calling their Care Navigation line at 866-JFCS-NOW (866-532-7669), or complete a service request form on their official website: jfcsphilly.org.
JFCS has been selected to participate in this year’s Philly Gives campaign, which will run from November 1 to December 31, 2025. All donations made through phillygives.org will go directly to the ten selected nonprofit organizations, ensuring that 100% of the funds support essential programs.