While we are continuing to serve and support our clients and community, JFCS staff are working remotely, which means lots of time at home–including pets, kids, PJs, and home-brewed coffee! Here are a few staff members’ home offices, plus what they are working on from home and some advice they’re sharing with clients during this time.
Pralad Mishra
Pralad Mishra – Service Coordinator, Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC)
I have been calling and checking with in with local Bhutanese families who have friends and family being impacted by the virus in other states. I’ve also been calling clients to talk to them about social distancing and other resources.
Right now, I’m advising my clients on understanding social distancing and letting them know what resources are available to them during the crisis.
Pam Harris
Pam Harris – Career Counselor, JFCS Career Development Center
I find myself asking clients to consider taking their skills up a notch or adding to their tech skills while they are not working. With the social distancing, this may provide even more opportunity to take classes – online, using the JFCS Career Development’s Online Learning Tool hosted by Ed2Go as well as the various MOOC platforms, many of which can be found on the Class Central website. Other learning platforms include Lynda.com and Alison.com, among others.
This is also a great time to look online for Gig opportunities. As long as people still have money to pay, they will pay for services they need. There are a multitude of Gig platforms, work from home sites and freelance writing opportunities out there. Of course, these may not cover your salary, but they can plug the holes by allowing you to work remotely and cover some bills.
Emily Pence
Emily Pence – Service Coordinator, Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC)
While working from home, I’ve been assisting immigrant and refugee clients in navigating the healthcare system.
A lot of my clients express insecurity about their English skills, even the ones that speak English pretty well. I’m often trying to encourage them by saying, “Your English is good. I can understand.”
Stephanie Rodriguez
Stephanie Rodriguez – School Based Consultant
I am currently doing research on free educational activities for students to do while at home. Also researching how to support parents in creating at home incentive programs to keep students motivated to do their work while at home.
I always find myself telling my clients that it’s okay to use your coping skills at school, even if that means taking the hall pass and walking in the hall for a little.
Holly Anderson
Holly Anderson – Caregiver Services Coordinator, Caregiver Connections (and office-mate Charlie)
Today I am working on getting adjusted to working remotely. I had a conference call with the two people in my Caregiver Connection department. We have decided to do this daily, so we can stay in touch and discuss things going in our department. It is also nice to hear familiar work voices. It keeps me in work mode.
I find myself telling clients that we are here for you. I always want our clients to feel supported and comfortable with my colleagues and me. I want them to know I care about them. I want them to have a positive experience using Caregiver Connection services.
Kaitlyn Molinaro
Kaitlyn Molinaro – Lead Service Coordinator, Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC)
Right now, I’m helping the ISAC service coordinators figure out how to best serve their clients while working remotely.
The advice I give to my clients is the best advice that was given to me by a close friend to “be kind to yourself”. Simply put – but – things happen that are either in your control or out of your control and its important to remember not to get down on yourself too much because everyone is doing their best. Remember to be kind to yourself about the way to talk about yourself because everyone is just trying to do their best.
Stefanie Small
Stefanie Small – Director of Clinical Services
I’m working remotely at home today speaking with clients and collaborating with the community in Riverdale, NY to understand what mental health resources we should be putting into place for our community.
Pictured: Clear view to the front door and the kids in the living room, hand written to-do lists, land line, tissues, hand cream, flowers to brighten the room and laptop open to email!
Yesmina Salib
Yesmina Salib – Program Coordinator, JFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services
I spent most of yesterday calling each of the support group leaders and speaking with them about their communities, their concerns, and talking about covid-19. I made sure they knew the JFCS staff is still working, they were all very appreciative and happy we are here as a resource.
Also I just got off the phone with one of our interpreters, we were speaking about the support group program and the potential for her to be a leader once things start to normalize. She was very impressed with JFCS and so excited to hear about the RISG program. She spoke about other agencies she worked for in the past and said she felt there was “more love” from the people working here. Something along the lines of: ‘You and the people I have met here are very committed to helping people. The programs seem to do more and you have more here. There is a lot of love and care at JFCS.’
It was such a nice way to end the day.
Pam Day
Pam Day – Career Consultant, JFCS Career Development Center
Today I have 4 individual career counseling sessions scheduled with JFCS Career Development Center clients. Since we are working remotely these sessions will be conducted over the phone rather than in person meetings.
Job searching requires a great deal of perseverance and patience even in the most normal of times. When our world is turned upside down from an extraordinary event such as the coronavirus your first instinct might be to put your job search on hold until life gets back to normal. While companies may be putting off hiring decisions and even laying off employees, now is not the time to sit idle – perseverance and patience are more critical now than ever.
There are plenty of things you can do to keep your job search moving forward: work on your resumes and cover letters, brush up on your interviewing skills, research employers of interest, take an online course to gain a critical skill required for your industry, reach out to your network and expand your LinkedIn connections (the list goes on and on). Remember things will turn around and when they do you want to make sure you are ready to hit the pavement and put your best self forward.
Lisa Lenhart
Lisa Lenhart – Career Counselor, JFCS Career Development Center
Working from home, I have been reaching out to my clients via Google phone and email.
The major theme for my clients has been reassurance that I will continue to be here for them. Some realize that the interviewing process is not going to happen over the next month, and are worried that our working relationship will end. I work with many individuals with invisible disabilities and this upheaval has resurfaced some difficulties they wrestle with.
On a side note my other daily repeat is: asking one of my tech savvy kids…do you know how to get Google phone? Do you know how to start a Google meeting? Blessed they are home during my rapid need to up my own tech game.
Claire Burbea
Claire Burbea – Clinical Needs LCSW, JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
I’ve been working on getting myself set up to work at home (JFCS laptop and software, Google Phone number per Dave’s [JFCS Strategic Marketing Specialist] instructions) to respond to Critical Needs clients calling in.
JFCS staff are working remotely, but we are continuing to support and serve the community! To stay updated on changes in JFCS services and connect with resources available during this time, please visit jfcspgh.org/coronavirus.