EMERGENCY FUND COMMITTEE

The Iranian American Jewish Federation (IAJF) of Los Angeles was founded in 1981 with the goal of assisting Iranian refugees fleeing from war and persecution build a new life in America. The IAJF collaborated with community and political leaders to further our interests in our new country, as well as protecting the rights of those remaining in Iran.

Emergency Fund Committee, a division of IAJF was established at the same time and assisted the applicants with financial needs such as food coupons and rent assistance.

In 2014, The Emergency Fund was restructured into three divisions:

-Social Services
-Fund Raising
-Cemetery Plot Sales and Management

Emergency Fund Co-Chairs: Susan Azizzadeh and Haideh Herbert-Aynehchi

SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION:

Description:
The Social Services division was established in 2014 and has proudly served the community in crisis, This division extends the Emergency Social Fund services beyond the traditional coupons or short-term monthly rental subsidies. Emergency Fund case workers consist of a group of volunteer multi-disciplinary professionals who serve the community with dignity, compassion and dedication. The Committee members utilize a holistic approach in evaluating each applicant and consider contributing factors such as physical and emotional health, family situation, financial situations, and cultural influences in order to find the best solutions toward an improved quality of life and self-sufficiency at levels appropriate for each applicant.

Goals of Social Services:
The new committee is designed based on the Social Work and Vocational Evaluation models, and use a holistic approach.
This means in-person interviews for determination of client’s needs and all the factors contributing to the problem. In the Vocational Rehabilitation model, all issues either personal, physical, mental, or educational limitations and or problems existing in the community such as the labor market and attitudes toward individuals with disability are considered and dealt with.

Eligibility for Services:
EF is an inclusive service provided to Iranian American Jewish applicants residing in larger Los Angeles area. EF applicants fall into two general categories.
Applicants who have the potential to start work if provided with appropriate services planned for each.
Applicants, specially the frail elderly who require lifetime support.

Range of Services:
The type of assistance is varied based on each individual’s needs and include assistance with financial analysis, research into resources and options in regard to client needs such as housing issues, food, medical and mental health; life skills coaching, and fighting addiction.
Career counseling and vocational rehabilitation counseling are offered to individuals who can benefit from training to become self-sufficient with technical and professional training, tools, and work advice.
Follow up calls contribute to long term effectiveness of the program.

For the future, a new category of services might be developed to to assist in strengthening Jewish identity among our youth.

Intake and Follow Up Procedures:

1. Each applicant calls for help and is advised to fill out an application.

2. An application is mailed or emailed to the applicant.

3. After submission of application, applicants will receive a phone call, confirming the receipt of the application. They will be informed to provide documentation supporting their request. EF will not be able to provide services without proper documentation requested from the applicant and reviewed by EF.

4. After receipt of documentation, the case will be added to the agenda for the next Committee meeting.
a. Applications can be rejected if the Committee notices discrepancies between applicant reports given at different times and/or between applicant reports and verified documentation.

b. In some cases, EF may deny compensation for applicant expenditures incurred prior to application for service.
c. EF is not equipped to provide loans or conduct follow-ups concerning repayment of loans. The members of EF committee strongly believe that providing loans might adversely affect the relationship between our counselors and clients.

5. The case will be discussed in the committee, and if determined eligible for service, two case managers are designated to each case.

6. Case managers will conduct a home visit with the applicant, and provide the Committee with a report of the interview for approval of recommendations.

7. The EF service manager will follow up with:

a. Coordinating home visit appointments
b. Coordinating services with the applicant and case managers for delivery of approved services. Service delivery may include but is not limited to arranging payment for recommended services, research into existing resources within the community and more depending on each case.

8. Upon completion of services, applicants will receive follow-up calls in periodic interims that might include every three months, six months, or a year.

Emergency Fund Co-Chairs: Susan Azizzadeh and Haideh Herbert-Aynehchi

Social Services Division Members:
Farnoush Abrishami: Case manager at Jewish Family Service and community activist
Haideh Aynehchi: Qualified Senior Rehabilitation counselor, Co-chair of Emergency Fund Committee, Lifetime Community Activist
Susan Azizzadeh: IAJF former president and co-chair of EF. Lifetime community activist
Diana Boostanfar: Former member of IJWO. Lifetime community member
Elahe Borokhim: Lifetime community activist and EF services coordinator
Farzaneh Farzan-Eshaghian: Member of VBS Counseling Center
Yael Hassid: Community activist and philanthropist
Shahla Javdan,: President of Iranian Jewish Women Organization and a past president of IAJF. A lifetime community activist
Dr. Yousef Kohanzadeh: University professor and community activist
Dr. Minou Michlin: Professor Emeritus of Social Work, Author
Dr. Nahid Rafii: Physical therapist, chair of Health and Wellness Committee, Alzheimer educator
Saeed Sassooni: Lifetime community activist
Eileen Slutsky: Retired director of Disability and Assessment at JVS-SoCal, former CARF surveyor
Manijeh Taban: Leading a support group for Dementia Family Support, philanthropist
Dr. Shadee Toomari: Psychologist, community activist
Manizheh Yomtoubian: Founder of Persians for Cure, philanthropist, community activist
Betty Youabian: Community activist and philanthropist
Manigeh Youabian: Lifetime community advocate, activist, philanthropist

EF ADMINISTRATORS: Nasrin Mandegar, Maria Mascardo

FUNDRAISING DIVISION MEMBERS: Manochehr Nazarian, Elie Alyeshmerni, Yoel Neman, George Eshaghian, Mark Haloosim, Jack Rochel, Shahla Javdan, Susan Azizzadeh, Elahe Boroukhim

CEMETERY PLOT MANAGEMENT & SALE: Manouchehr Nazarian, Elie Alyeshmerni, Elahe Borokhim, Maria Mascardo