Jewish Family Service - Cincinnati

CEO Liz Vogel Announces Retirement

“We are grateful to Liz Vogel for her eight years of dedicated, passionate, and thoughtful service to Jewish Family Service," says Ellen Feld, Board President.

Jewish Family Service CEO Liz Vogel has announced she will retire on August 28. With Vogel’s full support, COO Linda Kean and Chief Services Officer Ann Sutton Burke have been named Interim Co-CEOs; they have a combined 49 years of service to JFS.

Vogel is leaving JFS in an excellent position financially and organizationally. She has grown the organization and built a strong and empathetic team. Under her tenure, Jewish Family Service created innovative and significant offerings in Youth Mental Health Services for children and young adults, K’vod Connect’s services for socially isolated older adults, and Adult Day Services’ support for older adults with memory challenges. On the organizational side, Vogel also secured two significant milestones: JFS was approved as a Medicaid provider and received an impressive three-year accreditation from CARF International. For full story, see link below.

"Helping older adults and caregivers recognize government imposter scams, report fraud, and connect to support before lasting harm occurs." Yesterday, the Elder Justice Coordinating Council’s 17 agency partners unveiled the Federal Elder Justice Action Plan.

Do you know how to spot a government imposter?

Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.

These imposter scammers lie and pretend to be someone they’re not. Their goal? Trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.

One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account.

To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.

Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.

To recognize and avoid a government imposter, keep these things in mind:

Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.

Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.

Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.

Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

"Aging, like entering the Promised Land, is a step into the unknown." Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. See below for Jewishly aligned and other resources.

"Aging, like entering the Promised Land, is a step into the unknown. It can hold blessing, purpose, and continued connection. It can also bring uncertainty and vulnerability. The difference often lies in how communities show up for those growing older. That’s why Sacred Spaces created Seivah: Sacred Aging, an initiative to help Jewish organizations move toward a future where growing older is a stage of life to be honored and protected."

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day | Sacred Spaces Moses sent twelve spies to scout the Promised Land. Ten returned fearful, warning of danger and uncertainty. Only two—Joshua and Caleb—kept faith with God. In the end, they alone were permitted to grow old and enter the land, Joshua as Moses’ successor and Caleb as a revered elder and warrior....

“It's an amazing accomplishment." We are proud to announce that we've been recognized for achieving the gold standard in client care for case management services for adults and older adults, and mental health counseling for all ages.

“It's an amazing accomplishment to be awarded the full three years as a first-time applicant,” said our CEO, Liz Vogel. “It took incredible diligence, professionalism, and flexibility on the part of our team.”

Independent outside experts CARF International have evaluated our programs and confirmed: the people we serve receive the highest quality care.

"It turned your heart." For Holocaust Survivors Day, we asked Lisa MacVittie, where she gets meaning in her life today. This Holocaust survivor fled Berlin in 1939 as a 6-year-old with polio for Shanghai, then New Jersey, then Cincinnati.

Lisa said:

“I like to work with kids. You don't see too many kids smiling when they're hungry. So I like to see them smile. I never smiled much.

Up until two, three years ago, I ran the children and youth program for the [American] Legion. At Christmas, you see how delighted they are when they get to sit on Santa's lap. That is the best part. That or when Penny's over here, they opened up an hour early for us to take a whole group of these kids, and let them pick out what clothes they want. And no parents allowed! [grins].

It was the reaction of those kids that turned your heart, when you see the look on their face or when a little one comes to you, ‘Can I buy this for my brother?’ It was supposed to be for the kid we had with us, and if it wasn't anything big, I'd say, ‘Don't tell anyone. But your brother can have that.’ They are so vulnerable at that age.”

Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, asks us to celebrate and support survivors and the lives they are living today. We are celebrating all month.

Lisa MacVittie is a part of our Center for Holocaust Survivors, and enjoys programming, conversation, and wrap-around social services. She meets regularly with her JFS care manager.

"I know he would be so proud.” Some good can come from even deep loss. In March of this year, Cindy Jarnicki coordinated with her sons and grandsons to deliver Passover meals and items for the seder together, as part of Jewish Family Service’s Passover Delivery Project. They’ve been doing this as a family for six years now.

“Starting March, 2021—just three short months after my husband, Oscar Jarnicki, passed away from a short illness—my family started volunteering for JFS’s Passover Delivery Project,” said Cindy. “For me, participating in this meaningful mitzvah was a way to honor and remember my beloved husband Oscar. I know he would be so proud.” See link to full story in first comment.

"I can see my flag." For Holocaust Survivors Day, we asked Lisa (Liselotte) MacVittie, what values she wants to pass on to her 38 great-grandchildren. This 93-year-old Holocaust survivor fled Berlin as a 6-year-old with polio for Shanghai, then New Jersey.

“I joined the service because I felt like I owed this country something,” said Lisa. At 25, she joined up and served 3 years in the military, meeting her husband there. That is a value she passed on. “A lot of the men and women [in our family] are, or at one time or another, have been in the military.”

It’s a part of her. “I can see my flag from right here when you look straight out," she said, speaking from her kitchen. "I say good morning and I say good night [to it]. Talk to myself. But that's all right.”

Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, asks us to celebrate and support survivors and the lives they are living today. We are celebrating all month.

Lisa MacVittie is a part of our Center for Holocaust Survivors, and enjoys programming, conversation, and wrap-around social services. She also meets regularly with her JFS care manager.

“We all come in with the usual stuff, and it’s nice to come here for something new and challenging." —Adult Day Services participant

In Adult Day Services this month, our yoga class focused on the Warrior Pose—a symbol of resilience, confidence, and inner strength.

Special thanks to program volunteers and our instructor, Linda Kean.

For more about Adult Day Services see first comment, below.

Congratulations to our COO, Linda Kean, for her Avodah Award from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. Well deserved, Linda, and MazelTov!

At our 130th Annual Meeting, we had the honor of recognizing some extraordinary people who make Jewish Cincinnati shine.

Anne Goldstein (Junior Avodah Award): Anne has spent nearly 10 years at the Mayerson JCC connecting people to each other and to Jewish life. She walks with teens through Auschwitz on March of the Living. She runs the Oy Vey 5K and the J Classic. She means so much to so many!

Linda Kean (Senior Avodah Award): Linda has given 30 years to Jewish human services, 25 of them at Jewish Family Service. This past year, more people came to JFS than ever before. Linda makes sure the doors stay open.

Jim Heldman (Goldstein Volunteer of the Year): Jim has volunteered across nearly every corner of our community for decades. He also leads a Monday morning walking group where dozens of friends show up just to be together. Jim’s incredible spirit brings people together.

Thank you, Anne, Linda, and Jim. Mazel Tov! 🎉

"Many parents feel the pressure in public spaces to have their kids “hold it together,” especially when it seems like others are watching. The truth is, almost every parent has moments like this—it just isn’t often talked about. The more you talk openly about your own experiences, the more others will share theirs. And sometimes, that honesty is what helps others feel less alone.

A big part of our role as therapists is helping parents understand that what may look like “noncompliance” is often a child trying to regain a sense of control in a world that feels too fast, too loud, or too uncertain. Our work is then to help children build the language to express what they need—whether that’s control, autonomy, or reassurance.

Big feelings are a normal part of childhood. Our goal is not to eliminate them, but to help children move through them safely while adults remain steady, consistent, and emotionally available. Over time, children learn that big feelings are manageable—and that they don’t have to navigate them alone."

— JFS team member, LISW-S, youth counseling expert

In honor of May, Mental Health Awareness Month