“Of the hundreds of programs across the country, our Tablets & Technology program was deemed to be among the eight best," declared Jewish Family Service (JFS) Center for Holocaust Survivors Director Meredith Davis. "We will receive an additional year of funding based on our exceptional evaluation outcomes.”

The exclusive honor was bestowed earlier in the year by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Center on Aging and Trauma—a project of the Holocaust Survivor Initiative. The recognition demonstrates that the Center for Holocaust Survivors initiative, "Tablets & Technology: Alleviating Isolation in Holocaust Survivors" is one of eight elite programs, nationwide, to exhibit such exemplary practices. 

"This is the fifth consecutive year JFS has received the resources needed to ensure the program's success," noted Davis, "and we are proud of that consistency, and the confidence JFNA has shown in our initiative. But far more importantly, we know that this money will provide socialization opportunities, and improve the lives of our Holocaust survivors.“

"Holocaust survivors are our teachers and our heroes,” said Mark Wilf, the chair of the JFNA's board of trustees. “With inspiring strength and conviction, they teach us about the past. Now, they are teaching us how to better serve all older adults who have survived trauma.”

“JFNA has been a steadfast partner in our work to help Holocaust survivors live their fullest and most meaningful lives,” said JFS CEO Liz Vogel. “We are grateful for this funding and the many other resources they provide to our team and others serving survivors around the US.”

"Of the hundreds of programs across the country, our Tablets & Tech program was deemed to be among the eight best. We will receive an additional year of funding based on our exceptional evaluation outcomes."

 —Meredith Davis, Director, JFS Center for Holocaust Survivors

Reports suggest that one out of three Holocaust survivors in the US lives in poverty, and as many as 90 percent of older adults in the US have a history with some form of trauma. War, violence, accidents, domestic or sexual abuse, or discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation can all foment serious, long term difficulties. 

Challenges experienced by Holocaust survivors and other older populations was further increased by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many live alone and are at risk for social isolation, depression, and other physical and mental health conditions.

Tablets & Technology represents a form of "person-centered, trauma-informed" (PCTI) programming. PCTI care is a holistic approach that promotes empowerment by incorporating knowledge about the role of trauma in victims' lives into agency programs, policies, and procedures. Spearheaded by JFNA, this approach acknowledges that survivors of trauma have distinct and extraordinary needs, and that service delivery must include an understanding of these needs to avoid re-traumatization.

By employing a PCTI approach, JFS hopes to ensure that survivors will continue to stay connected to the community—while maintaining their independence and dignity. Among other advantages, the use of tablets, like iPads, teaches survivors to meaningfully connect with the outside world.