Cutting the ribbon to JFS Orlando's new counseling wing

As the 40th anniversary of Jewish Family Services approaches, a special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last Thursday officially opening the newest wing of the facility.

In 2016, Orange County Community Development Block Grant awarded JFS Orlando with a $75,804 grant to transform one hallway of the building into a mental health counseling center; create an ADA-compliant handicap ramp at the rear of the building (that faces Lee Road) for a new counseling center entrance, which will give clients privacy upon entering the building; replace the exterior building doors to increase ADA compliance; and replace the carpeting in the agency offices.

Prior to the ribbon cutting, Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy told the audience that Florida ranks last in total state mental health funding, and she thanked JFS for the tremendous work it is doing. Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes stated that most mental health facilities have up to three-month wait lists. The agency's goal is to help families or individuals get the needed treatment with no wait list, which it has accomplished.

More than 50,000 hours of counseling sessions were provided last year in both individual and group settings by counselors Brenda Chappell, a registered mental health counselor intern; Carla Fischer, MA, LMHC, LMT; Daniel M. Fisher, Ed. S., LMHC; Danielle Glover, MSW; Stacey Greenberg, MSW, LCSW; and Daniel Nabatian, MA, who address issues related to grief, loss, anxiety, parenting, aging and more.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees toured the new wing and met the licensed therapists.

The 40th anniversary gala will be held April 29.