St. Louis Park Community Education

Mission

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota provides essential services to people of all ages and backgrounds to sustain healthy relationships, ease suffering and offer support in times of need.

Values

Based on the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), JFCS believes everyone is entitled to equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. As a human service organization, we value:

• Compassion – providing highest quality care and support through all stages of life
• Inclusion – treating people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, religions and abilities with dignity and respect
• Innovation – anticipating community needs and responding with excellence, effectiveness and creativity
• Integrity – working in a manner that is consistently ethical and accountable
• Collaboration – establishing lasting partnerships in the community to broaden our impact and inform our work

History

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis began in 1910. Then known as the Associated Jewish Charities of Minneapolis, the agency assisted the rising tide of Eastern European Jewish émigrés resettling in the Minneapolis area. Through the efforts of the Board of Directors and other volunteers, pioneering new Americans received financial and employment assistance, along with medical care. In 1914, the agency hired its first staff member to provide professional services to families.

In 1918 JFCS became a charter member of the United Way, then known as the “Town Tea Kettle” and later, the “Community Chest.” Ten years later, JFCS became a charter member of the newly formed Minneapolis Federation for Jewish Service – now known as the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. Today these two funding bodies continue to provide significant support for JFCS services and programs.

In the spring of 1911, six prominent Jewish businessmen met to draft a Document of Incorporation for The Jewish Charities of St. Paul, Minnesota. Jewish Family Service of St. Paul was created to provide charity to impoverished Jewish refugees fleeing Eastern Europe.

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis and Jewish Family Service of St. Paul joined forces in 2026, creating Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota (JFCS). Today, JFCS provides a full spectrum of programs to address the crucial needs of more than 13,000 people who come to us every year.