(Courtesy of The Jewish Home at Rockleigh) The Jewish Home at Rockleigh Russ Berrie Home for Jewish Living has been given the Jewish Programming Award by the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) for its 2017 Vocational Certification Program, which operated in conjunction with Yachad. This is the fifth time the Home received this national award in the past six years.

“This award recognizes Jewish programs developed and implemented by AJAS organizations that are innovative, creative and specifically designed to enhance the spiritual well-being of the older adults they serve,” the award’s description reads.

“The Jewish Home successfully employs a diverse workforce with different abilities,” explains Executive Vice President Sunni Herman. “Individuals with special needs often have a difficult time obtaining employment due to a lack of specific education and experience. After undergoing in-depth training in our food services and environmental services departments and earning certification, participants were expected to be better positioned to gain employment either at the Jewish Home, by other employers catering to older adults or in the hospitality industry. This certification provided the means for participants to have a competitive edge when seeking paid employment.”

One of the program’s participants remains as a Jewish Home employee nearly a year after he received certification from the program. “He has great pride in receiving a paycheck from the Home,” Herman says.

For more information about the program, contact [email protected].