The Associated system both combats economic instability and promotes financial wellness in several key areas: providing emergency cash assistance, caring for older adults and people with disabilities, providing affordable housing and career services, addressing mental health and wellness and addressing food insecurity. The Associated system invests more than $18 million in financial resources to address financial fragility and Jewish poverty. The Associated allocates funding to its human service agencies, Day School scholarships and JCC scholarships to promote financial wellness and reduce economic instability. 

The Associated is a proud participant in the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty, a collaborative of funders, Jewish Federations, direct service providers, researchers, media outlets and advocates dedicated to fighting poverty and financial fragility in the American Jewish community. Below is an overview of services provided through The Associated system.    

Emergency Cash Assistance 

• Emergency cash assistance and benefits, Ignite Career Center, behavioral economics training and approach (Jewish Community Services (JCS)) 
• Scholarship funds provided to local Jewish Day schools (The Associated) 
• Community Fund for Israel Experiences: scholarships for Israel educational travel for students (The Associated/ Louise D. and Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish Education (CJE)) 
• Hebrew Free Loan 

Older Adults 

• AgeWell Baltimore is a network of 40+ coordinated and collaborative services for older adults, their loved ones families and caregivers. (The Associated, Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc. (CHAI), CHANA and JCS). This Centennial initiative is supported by Irene and Robert Russel and Family and the Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Charitable Foundation.  
• Elder abuse (CHANA) 

• Personal care subsidies, elder care management, Patient Care Connections, and more (JCS) 
• Affordable housing, benefits counseling, senior home repair (CHAI) 
• Socialization (Edward A. Myerberg Center) 

Affordable Housing 

• Affordable housing communities for older adults (CHAI)  
• Housing for People with Disabilities (HOPED) housing for people living with chronic mental illness (CHAI)  
• Residential program for adults with developmental disabilities who receive residential funding from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (JCS) 

Workforce Development 

• The Ignite Career Center offers comprehensive employment assistance to both individuals and employers. The Ignite Center includes Career Services, Employment Support Services and Employer Services. (JCS) 

Mental Health and Wellness 

• Emotional and behavioral health services; service coordination (case management) (JCS)  
• Support for teens and young adults through Jewish summer camp, teen programming through 4Front and young adult engagement (IMPACT, JCC, Hillels, Moishe House, Repair the World) 
• Socialization through outdoor programming for children in a Jewish setting throughout the pandemic (JCC and Pearlstone) 
• “Friendly calls” to clients during pandemic (CHAI, CHANA and JCS) 

Disabilities 

• Housing services -HOPED housing for adults who have a chronic mental illness (CHAI) 
• Educational advocacy, educational programming for children and adults, social and recreational services (CJE) 
• Social services for children and adults, community-based services, residential program, employment supports, meaningful day activities (JCS) 
• Special educational services for children, advocacy, resources and professional development for teachers and parents (SHEMESH) 
• JCamps inclusion program (JCC) 
• Baltimore Jewish Abilities Alliance (BJAA) is our Jewish community’s network that links individuals with disabilities, and their families, to resources, services, and support (The Associated, CHAI, CJE, JCC, JCS, SHEMESH, VSP/LifeBridge)  

Food insecurity 

• Emergency food assistance (JCS) 
• Nonprofit partners continue to identify hunger as a pressing issue in their communities (JVC).  
• Kosher meals (Meals on Wheels) 
• Eating Together grab-and-go meals in the senior living communities (CHAI)