Frequently Asked Questions - JVS of MetroWest

FAQs

Who We Are

What is JVS?

Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest New Jersey (JVS) is a non-sectarian, community-based, workforce development organization dedicated to helping job-seekers—including those from underserved and often marginalized populations—acquire the skills and training they need to secure and maintain gainful employment over the short- and long-term. For more information about our mission and history, please click here.

Who does JVS serve?

JVS provides assistance to the following underserved populations:

Adults with physical, emotional, developmental, and social disabilities, including adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Job-seekers who are unemployed, under-employed, or looking to make a career transition, including Adults 50+, recent college graduates, and graduate students
Immigrants and refugees
Military veterans
People who want to obtain a high school equivalency diploma
People in underserved communities.

Do I have to be Jewish to receive assistance from JVS?

No; in fact, approximately 60% of the people we serve are not Jewish. Guided by our Jewish heritage and values, JVS believes everyone has something of value to contribute to the world—and deserves to live and be treated with dignity. Consequently, we serve clients from all walks of life, without regard to religious affiliation, age, race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political perspective, or socioeconomic status.

What makes JVS “Jewish,” if the majority of your clients aren’t?

Simply, put EVERYTHING WE DO. JVS is Jewish not because of who we serve—but because of WHO WE ARE. Our mission is founded on the Jewish teaching that helping people help themselves is the highest form of tzedakah, or social justice. And, our vision of creating a world where everyone is empowered to fulfill their own potential, regardless of the challenges they may be experiencing, compels us to reach out to “the others” among us, those whom society often ignores.

For more information about who we serve—and the services we provide—please click here.

What We Do

What services does JVS provide?

Our services fall into several program areas. We meet with clients to help them determine which services will best help them meet their employment objectives.

Workforce Development

Pharmacy Technician training programs
Certified Home Health Aide training programs
Certified Apartment Maintenance training programs

Vocational Rehabilitation

Career counseling and job placement assistance
Comprehensive vocational evaluation services
School-to-career transition services for people with disabilities
Career Center for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Job skills training in a variety of industries, including retail, hospitality, and office-based businesses
Internships and Skill-building Through Service opportunities
One-on-one job coaching
Services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Services for military veterans, including case management and support groups

Career Counseling and Job Placement

Job search coaching and support, including assistance with resume and cover letter writing and interview preparation
Career and education planning
Services for Job-seekers 50+
Services for college students, recent college graduates, and graduate students
Networking groups and workshops
Student loans and grants

Education and Literacy

Classes in English as a Second Language and Adult Basic Education
Refugee Services
Citizenship Exam Preparation

Private Career School

Microsoft Office Specialist classes in Word and Excel
Customer Service Representative training
English as a Second Language classes
Adult Basic Education classes

Corporate Training

Leadership
Management
Human resources
Lean processes
Grant procurement
Professional development
Microsoft Office

Custom Business Solutions

Mailing services
Labeling
Packaging
Assembly
Quality control

For more information about the services we provide, please click here.

What makes JVS different from other, similar organizations?

JVS has a singular focus: to provide our clients with the tools and training necessary to help them get and keep a job. Our staff of highly-trained and dedicated professionals meets of our clients where they are and tailors their approach to best meet the job-related needs and goals of each client. While we do provide other types of assistance on a limited basis (for instance, connecting clients to resources like SNAP, TANF, emergency housing, etc.), our primary focus remains helping our clients help themselves achieve economic self-sufficiency by preparing them to enter and be successful navigating today’s competitive workforce environment.

Our Impact

How does JVS measure its impact?

Each year, more than 2,000 individuals turn to JVS for help.

Is my donation to JVS tax-deductible?

Yes. Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest New Jersey is a community-based, non-profit organization. Our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is certified by the Internal Revenue Service.

How You Can Help

Can I make a donation in honor or in memory of someone?

Absolutely. A donation to JVS is both a thoughtful and fitting way to pay tribute to the honor or memory of a loved one.

What makes JVS different from other, similar organizations?

That’s a great question, and the answer is, in a variety of ways. JVS views our impact as a continuum—a series of benchmarks our clients meet as they progress toward achieving their ultimate goal of securing long-term gainful employment:

For clients in our Vocational Rehabilitation program, that means working to overcome disability-related barriers to employment.
For immigrants and refugees participating in our Education & Literacy classes, that means learning to communicate in English and acquiring a working understanding of basic skills like reading, writing, and math.
For job-seekers receiving assistance from our Career Counseling and Job Placement department, that means staying in the game long enough to find the right job once they’ve polished their resumes and mastered skills like cover letter writing and interviewing.
For our corporate training clients, it means providing them with customized training that can help their businesses measurably reduce costs, optimize efficiencies, maximize profits, or all-of-the-above.

Research shows that economic self-sufficiency not only creates impact for those who achieve it but also for those they provide for. People who are able to adequately support themselves and their loved ones enjoy better physical and mental health, better education, a more stable home life, and greater opportunity—and pass those benefits on to future generations, as well. Consequently, the impact created by JVS not only changes the lives of those we serve—it changes the lives of those they serve, too.

For more information about our impact, please click here.

How do I get a tax receipt?

We provide an official tax receipt to every JVS donor who makes a donation to JVS. If you’re making your donation via our website, you will receive an automated confirmation email detailing the date and amount of your gift, which will act as your official tax receipt. If you’re making a donation by phone, mail, or at an event, you will receive a written confirmation letter via traditional mail detailing the date and amount of your gift, which will serve as your official tax receipt.

Are there sponsorship and/or partnership opportunities available?

YES! JVS believes in the value of collaboration; consequently, we offer area businesses and other community-based organizations a myriad of sponsorship opportunities—and a wide range of participation levels:

Event sponsorships
Program sponsorships
Naming opportunities
Strategic partnerships
Shared services opportunities

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