b'Abuse Cases Will Continue to SurgeON TIME AND ON BUDGET,In the past year, cases of domestic abuse soared. CHANA, MERRITT DELIVERS ONan Associated agency that provides a Jewish responseto people experiencing abuse, saw a 131% increase inclient contacts. At the same time, older adults who were abused, often by family members, felt they had nowhere to turn. DependentTHEIR PROMISES.on their abusers to take them to doctors appointments or to make sure they had food and medicine, they kept quiet.During the pandemic, CHANAs advocates worked around the clock to provide legal advice, counseling and safety Joe Mezzanotte, Partner|Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLPmeasures to help individuals leave their abusers. As the pandemic lifts, CHANA anticipates a surge in cases that will continue to be felt years to come. With an eye to the future, CHANA introduced a live, online, secure and confidential CHAT for victims of abuse who cannot call for help or who are afraid that their calls are monitored. Finally, they are expanding their prevention education programming to make sure teens, young adults and older individuals recognize the signs before they become involved in an abusive relationship. A Need for More Human ConnectionAfter more than a year in quarantine,other families with similar interests. many are feeling the need for connectionConnectors, a program of the Macks more than ever. As individuals beginCenter for Jewish Education* (CJE), is to venture out, they will reestablishdesigned to connect Jewish families in community connections.and around Baltimore. Connectors hold For some, this will be a slow transition.playdates, meetups, holiday celebrations Yet, as time goes on, expect individuals toand more to create community for local crave new opportunities as they strive tofamiliesor even just parentsindo more and meet new people.their neighborhoods. Nothing builds community likeSince 1854, the JCC* has been volunteer work. Jewish Volunteercommitted to forming connections Connection* (JVC) and its volunteersbetween community members. During have been working throughout thethe pandemic, many JCC programs pandemic to assist individuals inside andwent virtual. While the JCC will continue outside the Jewish community. As moreenforcing strict health and safety people become vaccinated and arepolicies, the staff are excited to welcome able to gather in groups, they will onceyou back to its Park Heights and OwingsWhen Whiteford, Taylor & Preston needed to expand their footprint again look for new ways to help othersMills locations.through hands-on service opportunities.in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, they turned to Merritt. Hear At the same time, for those with* JVC, CJE and the JCC are Associated agencies. how Merritt provided a turnkey build-out that focused on the firms young children, there is a desire to meetLearn about our work at associated.org.vision for the future at www.PartnerWithMerritt.com/WTP.10 associated.org|CENTENNIAL'