Annual Report for 2006

 Submitted by:
Gail Ravnitzky-Silberglied, Executive Director 

JCADA Board of Directors Leadership:
Barbara J. Zakheim, President
Sabine Himmelfarb, Vice President
Cindy Zitelman, Vice President
Liza Levy, Secretary

Board of Directors:
Rise Ain
Sharon Butler
Eric Cohen
Dorothy Fait
Ed Farber
Ellen Ginsberg
Sylvia Goldberg
Sharon Grosfeld
Ellen Haber
Judy Kermaier
Shoshana Riemer
Gail Rubinson
Steve Siesser
Michael Subin
Thea Wernick

Client Support
In 2006, JCADA continued serving a range of victims of abuse in the local Jewish community:

• JCADA’s hotline and help line received more than 100 calls for information and guidance.
• JCADA’s Case Manager handled 22 cases in 2006, including 12 new clients and 10 previous clients with ongoing needs.
• Services provided in 2006 included:  psychological counseling, job training, food, emergency shelter, basic domestic violence education, clothing, transportation, cell phone and other basic needs.  Clients also received legal services, including obtaining protective orders and having a volunteer advocates accompany them to court.
• Client referrals came from rabbis, sheriff’s offices, county domestic violence shelters, and the Jewish Social Services Agency.  Clients also contacted JCADA after viewing placards in synagogue bathrooms or through media campaigns.

Prevention
An important part of JCADA’s mission is to ensure that teenagers are educated about healthy relationships.  We do this by going into Jewish day schools, youth groups, Hillels, and temple religious schools with a curriculum specifically designed for each audience.  Topics include self-esteem, bullying, peer pressure, dating violence, and the signs of an abusive relationship.

In 2006, we were pleased to bring these programs to the following students:

• January 27 – Hebrew Academy 12^th grade girls
• January 31 – B’nai Israel High School
• February 23 – Kehilat Shalom program
• March 2 – Yeshiva 12^th grade girls
• April 24 – BBYO regional convention
• May 10 – Temple Solel – 8^th & 9^th graders and parents
• October 18 – 12^th grade boys at Hebrew Academy
• October 18 – 12^th grade girls at Hebrew Academy
•  November 29 – Program for high school students and parents at Temple Solel
•  December 12 – Rabbi’s 10^th grade class at Tikvat Israel

In 2006, we brought our prevention and educational programming to approximately 380 students, 20 youth leaders, and 50 parents.  On numerous occasions, a student has shared information about a friend in trouble, or their own abusive relationship, following one of our programs.  One teenage girl decided not to go to her prom with her then-boyfriend because she was questioning whether she was in a healthy relationship.

We ask all participants to complete evaluation forms following our programs, and these are some of the comments we have seen:

    “The self-esteem survey helped me realize how I compare to other people my age.” 
    “It was good to see what a healthy relationship is supposed to be.” 
    “Your presentation was both engaging and fun…handouts were particularly helpful” 
    “Abusive relationships are common in high school relationships.”
    “After this program, I have a better idea of how to help someone who is being abused.”

Education
JCADA is also working to educate the community about domestic abuse.  This includes providing training for those on the “front lines” – rabbis, cantors, mikva attendants, and religious school directors – to ensure that our religious community is prepared to respond when approached by a victim of domestic abuse.  JCADA also meets with Sisterhood and Social Action groups to educate the public about domestic abuse and how we can all help.

• January 27 – Beth Torah Congregation – Shabbat Services
• February 15 – Cantor Training
• March 12 – Training for JCADA presenters
• April 24 – BBYO regional convention
• March 26– B’nai Israel – teachers training
• October 29– This Yom Iyun (Day of Learning) program for Kallah teachers, Rebbitzens, and Mikva Attendants in October was a great success.  Twenty participants received training from Project S.A.R.A.H. of New Jersey .
  This program was made possible through a generous donation in memory of Charles Katlin, who was born in 1928 and died tragically in 1955 at the age of 27. He left behind a young widow and a grieving family. His sister, a resident of Silver Spring , made a contribution to JCADA in order that this program could take place because she wanted to acknowledge her brother’s commitment to respecting, protecting and caring for women.
• November 9 – Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood dinner
• December 3 – Volunteer Fair at Congregation Har Shalom
• December 21 – Temple Rodef Shalom Rosh Chodesh women’s group – preparation of Kosher kits for local domestic violence shelters

Synagogue Outreach
In a half page ad in the Washington Jewish Week in October, JCADA listed and applauded 36 local and national rabbis who signed on to the FaithTrust Institute’s National Declaration To Address Violence Against Women.  Additional local rabbis will be approached and asked to add their names to this declaration with a goal of running another half page ad in 2007 announcing the new list of supporters of the National Declaration.

Fundraising Efforts

·        Annual event -- “An Evening with Hexagon” was held in November to raise funds and  awareness about domestic abuse in our community.  More than 200 guests attended.  Bob Madigan served as Master of Ceremonies, and the evening featured readings of 3 stories of victims of violence in our community who sought help from JCADA; the stories were read by volunteers.  Liza Levy, a JCADA Board Member and local advocate for women’s philanthropy and the advancement of women and girls, was honored with the Barbara Rabkin Eshet Chayil Award.  Retiring JCADA Executive Director Marilyn Moskowitz was honored with the Public Service Award.  The event raised approximately $65,000.

·        CFCNCA -- JCADA was a beneficiary agency of the Combined Federal Campaign for the second year in a row and raised about $2,000.

·        Lord and Taylor Benefit -- JCADA participated in a charity event run by Lord and Taylor.  JCADA sold $5 coupons that entitled the bearer to special discounts and activities at the Tyson’s Corner Lord & Taylor on March 21, 2006 .  The event also generated publicity for JCADA, especially in Northern Virginia .  This event raised more than $1,000.

·        Newsletter -- In May, JCADA mailed its annual newsletter, Strength and Spirit, to more than 3,000 homes.  It featured articles about domestic abuse, a “Rabbi’s Corner” with words of wisdom from Rabbi David Rose, and an interview with JCADA board member Gail Rubinson.  The mailing led to donations of more than $4,000.

·        County Grant -- JCADA received a grant from Montgomery County to cover expenses related to moving to a new office and purchasing furniture, computers, and supplies for $24,350.

·        Foundations – JCADA received a grant from The Mead Family Foundation for $5,000.

·        Cell Phone Collection-- JCADA’s Cell Phone collection project raised $1,150.

·        End of Year Appeal -- JCADA’s end of year appeal raised more than $6,250.

Public Relations/Media Outreach
JCADA continued running its ads in the Washington Jewish Week on a regular basis.  We are expanding both the size and frequency of these ads, to reach as many potential victims and community leaders as possible.

Staff changes led to media attention in:  Roll Call, the Washington Post, the Washington Business Journal, the Hill, National Journal, the Washington Jewish Week, and CongressDaily.

Also in October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Washington Jewish Week printed an op-ed written by Gail Ravnitzky-Silberglied and Barbara J. Zakheim urging readers to become more active on the issue of domestic violence in our community.

In November, the annual fundraising event made news in Washingtonian Magazine, Bethesda Magazine, and the Washington Jewish Week.

Additional Activities

One of JCADA's Advisory Board members, The Honorable Kathleen Dumais , was the honored at the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence Annual Meeting.

JCADA testified in support of legislation introduced by Council member Steven Silverman to establish a 15 member Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council that will advise the county council and the county executive on domestic violence policies, programs and issues. This legislation was passed.

JCADA participated in a focus group regarding issues impacting Jewish women and girls that was sponsored by the Tikkum Olam Women’s Foundation of Greater Washington.

In December, JCADA implemented a formal confidentiality policy and had all staff, volunteers, interns, and contractors sign the agreement.