(Courtesy of OHEL) Jack Jaffa and Aaron Jungreis, OHEL’s capital campaign chairmen, announced that OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services has moved into the expansive new OHEL Jaffa Family Campus in Flatbush on Avenue M and East 14th Street after 48 years of being based in Borough Park, Brooklyn.

The New OHEL Jaffa Family Campus meets the needs of a rapidly growing community with an ever-increasing diversity of challenges. Importantly, the new campus enables OHEL to better serve individuals and families throughout the community by consolidating many of OHEL’s programs and services under one roof.

As OHEL CEO David Mandel comments, “While the move is, of course, a significant geographical change, far more importantly the move represents a transformation of OHEL into a ‘Center of Excellence’ providing an expansion of services, including new medical services, all under one roof.”

While OHEL has been typically understood to largely serve individuals and families who have developmental or psychiatric disabilities, the new campus equally embraces the needs of everyday individuals and families who face the mounting pressures of everyday life. From parenting to marital issues, trauma to anxiety, ADHD in children to becoming a caregiver of an elderly parent, OHEL is able to draw upon 48 years of specialized experience in serving and strengthening individuals, families and the community.

The opening of the campus also coincides with the launch of OHEL’s groundbreaking journal “Voices of Strength,” which through first-hand personal stories addresses many of the prevailing stigmas that exist in the community. OHEL believes the journal will help open minds and open doors to the new OHEL Jaffa Family Campus by nurturing a community more proactive in seeking help, which is a sign of strength.

The New OHEL Jaffa Family Campus will provide services in the three key areas of mental health services, developmental disability services and medical services.

The Irving and Miriam Langer Center for Developmental Disabilities provides a full range of pioneering outpatient, day habilitation and residential services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. The Rabbi Harry and Dr. Elizabeth Rieder Center for Mental Health Services meets the behavioral needs of everyday individuals and mental health needs of those with a psychiatric disability, in addition to residential housing. The Ganger Family Medical center will deliver superior primary care and pediatric medical services to the general community.

Said OHEL Co-Presidents Moishe Hellman and Mel Zachter, “We are here today because of the time, dedication and generosity of many selfless individuals—board members, families and community members who over the past few years turned this dream into a reality. Many have stood strong with us throughout, providing the financial means for OHEL to expand and consolidate its programs under one roof. Most importantly, we are grateful to them for our new ability to expand new services for OHEL’s children and adults in every age and stage of life.”

As Shlomo, a parent, remarks, “We see the enormous change in our son Avi who is now able to benefit from OHEL Bais Ezra’s Day Habilitation and Employment services, which are under one roof.” Chani, a mental-health client, comments, “I am now able to see my therapist and receive medical services at the same time.”

OHEL is very grateful to city and state government officials for their partnership and generosity in helping OHEL achieve this significant milestone.

Alan Secter, chief development officer, remarks, “Given client confidentiality, OHEL’s work is most often never seen. We are in your neighborhood every day providing help, comfort and support to thousands of individuals and families in crisis or in need.”

There are still many dedication opportunities in the OHEL Jaffa Family Campus where you can be a partner in providing vital support for the programs and services OHEL provides. For more information on these opportunities or to visit the new OHEL Jaffa Family Campus, we welcome you to contact Alan Secter at [email protected].