Individuals with Disabilities
In 2018, Encompass established The Jewish Community Fund for Adults with Disabilities to help ensure any Jewish adult can live in a Jewish home of their choice.
The struggle facing many families is finding and affording the ongoing support, housing, and caregiving that their loved ones with disabilities will need throughout their adult lives.
Currently hundreds of people in our community rely on daily quality support. Encompass was formed knowing that most want to live in Jewish homes that provide all the supports they need and would do so if the resources were there.
At present, agency partners include JCC Chicago, JCFS Chicago (including JVS), Keshet, Libenu, and Yachad.
Encompass: Seeing the Whole Person
When you first learn that your child has a disability, their overwhelming needs and the fear of what their future looks like, often results in crippling isolation. As time goes by, you find the support that your child needs to meet their full potential, which allows you to gain a sense of hope for their future.
For a while, the school system and recreational programs for children, teens and young adults provide enough respite and care.
But then your child ages out of these services the day before their 22nd birthday. Now what?
This is where Encompass steps in. Bringing together several agencies that provide services and supports to the disability community, our goal is to ensure that every Jewish adult has what they need to lead full and fulfilling lives.
Community Planning
Encompass, with support from JUF Planning and Allocation professionals, is committed to strengthening agency partners toward the buildout of a system of services for Jewish adults, regardless of ability to pay, that is sustainable and that adheres to person-centered planning.
Recognizing that no one agency can meet the breadth and depth of identified need, JUF and Encompass have adopted a collaborative, partnership-based model to leverage resources, maximize efficiencies and minimize duplication of efforts in providing a full array of financially sustainable, community-based services. JUF and Encompass regularly convene agency executives and community leaders toward expanding and enhancing community-based services for adults with disabilities.
Advocacy
Encompass, with support from JUF’s Government Affairs Department, oversees and coordinates system-wide efforts to maximize public funding for adults with disabilities.
At the state level, Encompass current advocacy efforts are focused on full funding of the Guidehouse Rate Study recommendations.
Inclusion
Jewish adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, like all of us, want the opportunity to participate, contribute and belong.
In partnership with JUF’s Tikkun Olam Volunteer Network (TOV), JUF and Encompass recently launched the Peer Inclusion Ambassador Program to provide inclusion opportunities in a wide array of naturally occurring social settings, including events hosted by JUF’s Young Leadership Division, Silverstein Base Chicago, OneTable, ChiTribe, Mem Global (Moishe House) and more. To participate in the Peer Inclusion Ambassador Program, contact TOV to request a Peer Inclusion Ambassador.
The Peer Inclusion Ambassador program builds on prior work to enhance inclusion in synagogues and congregations which culminated with mini-grants being awarded to fourteen congregations across Chicagoland representing each denomination to implement a wide array of inclusion projects including enhancements to building accessibility, the worship experience, congregational education, supplemental and religious school education and professional development.
*At present, agency partners include JCC Chicago, JCFS Chicago (including JVS), Keshet, Libenu, and Yachad.
Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things needed to lead one’s daily life.
Judith Heumann
It’s given him a new opportunity for a different life. He has friends, and action, and staff. He’s just so happy in the house. It has completely changed his life
Barbara Kent, mom to Bradley, resident in a JCFS home
Your gift can make a significant impact.
A donation to the fund allows Encompass to help individuals and their families by providing direct funding to help close the financial gap. The State of Illinois provides inadequate funding for adults living with disabilities, resulting in a funding deficit of an average of $10,000 per resident per year to ensure safe and dignified living spaces. Encompass has secured $5.5 million in funding to date—$10 million would adequately provide housing for all Jewish adults with disabilities for years to come.
This funding will enable all Jewish adults with disabilities to live in and be a part of our Jewish community.
Contact: Karen Galin | [email protected] |312‑357‑4959 | Sign Up for our Newsletter