February 11, 2013

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Government and lay leaders at a three-day Washington conference discussed strategies for helping the Jewish community’s most vulnerable people.

The Government Affairs Institute was hosted last week by The Jewish Federations of North America in collaboration with the Association of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies.

Members of the media, academia and the federal government lectured on government policies and met with government officials who work in the social services fields.

The program brings “together professionals and volunteers from across the country in order to address the policies that affect the Jewish community and the service agencies with whom federations work,” said William Daroff, vice president for public policy at JFNA.

Among the issues discussed were the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, social service support for Holocaust survivors, the possible effects of sequestration, authorization of the Behavioral Health Information Technology Act and Medicaid benefits.

“We value our partners in government and the opportunity to have access to those who can help further our work,” said Lee Sherman, president and CEO of the Association of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies. “This conference was a great way for our member agencies to meet with White House officials and members of Congress and voice our concerns about issues in the community.”
 

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