Florida-Based Adoption Center Opens Satellite Office Here

Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options, a 15-year-old nonprofit child-welfare agency based in South Florida, recently opened a satellite development office in Philadelphia. Its goal, noted director of development Rana Bell, is to reach out to individuals, synagogues and groups in the Mid-Atlantic region to raise awareness of a little-discussed issue within the Jewish community: child abuse.

"It is hard to believe this happens within the Jewish community," noted Bell. "Child abuse is not something we're comfortable talking about."

She added that despite the denial that exists in Jewish culture, the truth is that "there are Jewish children in need of these services" -- and not just in Florida, but everywhere.

"It is our responsibility as Jews to care for them," pointed out Bell, and "to help keep our Jewish children Jewish."

No matter how many homes or sites a child may be moved to, asserted Bell, "the one thing that can't be taken away from them is their religion."

When Florida youths are removed from dangerous home situations, "Jewish children are not always placed with Jewish families," since in that state, a child's religion is not asked when he or she is removed from the home, explained Bell.

She stated that the nonprofit group is specifically set up to help abused Jewish children -- kids who "have suffered some tremendous losses," and perhaps also witnessed and experienced drug, substance and physical abuse -- and members of their families.

In 2007 alone, 535 children were served by various services JAFCO offers, including family-preservation support.

Campus Serves as Shelter
The agency operates a 5.6-acre gated campus in South Florida that houses the JAFCO Children's Village, where there are six group homes, an emergency shelter and independent living facilities, primarily used by Jewish children, although, said Bell, no child in need is turned away.

On the campus, the children are exposed to their Jewish history in the kosher facility, and attend Shabbat services and Hebrew school every Sunday. They learn about tzedakah, celebrate Jewish holidays, and can even prepare for their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.

Bell, who relocated from the Sunshine State to the City of Brotherly Love about a year ago, still commutes once a month to the the agency's main office in Sunrise, Fla.

She noted that part of the decision to open a satellite office here was to be closer to many of the JAFCO donors who are from the Northeast region, in addition to reaching out to other individuals, synagogues and groups in the Mid-Atlantic states.

She said that she'll organize informational sessions, events and fundraisers in the coming months, and contact other organizations to increase the professional support base for her agency.

The end result, explained Bell, will be to have the JAFCO model duplicated in other Jewish communities across the United States "to help break the cycle of abuse and violence."

The next chapter for the organization is the JAFCO Respite and Residential Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities that will be constructed on the Florida campus.

Bell said that the expansion will include facilities that serve children with special needs -- children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and spina bifida, for example -- as well as their families.

The center will also serve as a temporary shelter or foster-care placement for at-risk children with disabilities. It's slated to open in 2010.

For more information, call 215-665-1050, or log on to: www. jafco.org.