Betty Jampel has begun reaching out to people suffering the loss of a loved one at Temple Beth Ahm in Springfield.

She has also run a workshop for seventh-graders about raging hormones and how to behave appropriately at b'nei mitzva celebrations, and she has another workshop planned to provide parenting tips for preschool parents.

But Jampel is a social worker, not a rabbi. She is part of an effort by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, and local rabbis, to integrate mental health support and social services into the synagogue culture. The pilot project was launched in mid-October with six local synagogues participating.

"Up until now, people have turned to social service agencies when they are in need. But it's an alien place. It is not part of their day-to-day world," said Robert Hyfler, executive director of the Healthcare Foundation. "This is a way of bringing services to where the people are, and not the other way around."

The project is based on a model created in New York in 2001 and adapted in other cities since, said JFS executive director Reuben Rotman. The program is being run by JFS, which is hiring and supervising the social workers.

"It's an opportunity to redefine the synagogue as a broad place where community is and where people's needs can be met," said Hyfler, whose foundation initiated the project locally. "Having a social worker in the synagogue means people need to reach out only half a step when they are in need. The synagogue is the portal through which they can get services."

The project is being funded primarily by the Healthcare Foundation with a grant of $124,870. JFS is also contributing $24,873 and participating synagogues are contributing a total of $39,000. Over time, the Healthcare Foundation grant will be phased out, and JFS will be expected to take over the funding, unless a donor steps in to take over the financial requirements.

In addition to Beth Ahm, the participating synagogues are Temple B'nai Abraham in Livingston, Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in Caldwell, Temple B'nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, and Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange.

Along with Jampel at Beth Ahm, social workers have begun at B'nai Abraham and Sharey-Tefilo Israel. Three more will start at the remaining synagogues within the next few weeks.

The social workers will spend 12-15 hours per week in the synagogue community.

They will be available as a resource to the synagogues' professionals and for direct services to congregants. They will tackle issues ranging from parenting and chronic illness to divorce and aging.

For example, said Rotman, "if a preschool teacher has a concern about a particular child's attention issue, the teacher might call a parent meeting and bring in the social worker. Parents often have more questions that the social worker is best equipped to answer."

The social workers will not provide ongoing traditional therapy.

In addition to working within the congregations, the social workers will form their own , solving problems and creating programs across the community. If they see similar issues arising at a number of synagogues, they might hold a community-wide workshop or support group; if there are only a few people from each synagogue who need a particular support group, they may join forces so all can reap the benefits.

Finally, the social workers will serve as resources for one another – those with a particular area of expertise may be tapped by a colleague for help.

A key part of the project is getting to know the culture of the synagogues and becoming a presence there. "We've always done work in synagogues, but it's never been consistent or ongoing," said Rotman. "We might run a six- or eight-week bereavement group, and then we leave. So when, the following month, there's an issue in the preschool, we're not there to help."

Rabbi Clifford Kulwin of Temple B'nai Abraham embraced the project as soon as Hyfler proposed it. B'nai Abraham's social worker, Ann Hicks, began Nov. 15.

"It's a fantastic idea. My first reaction was, ‘How come I never thought of that before?'" he said.

Kulwin likened the social worker's presence to having a congregational nurse. "Having a congregational nurse made us aware of how wonderful it is to have practitioners to knock on doors and get involved, as opposed to waiting for people to come to them," he said.

He thinks having the social worker as a part of the synagogue team will make a similar difference.

"There's a special sense that this is not just someone coming but someone from inside the shul. People respond positively to that." From his perspective, he said, the social worker will enable the professional team "to do more and be more for the congregation."

Local stories posted courtesy of the New Jersey Jewish News