Stella Blumenthal, LBSW

Licensed Social Worker with over 15 years of case management experience. On staff of JFS since 1996 and five years before that with the Senior Adult Department Staff of the Houston JCC. Currently serves as case manager (under the supervision of JFS Director of Senior Adult Services Department ) at the Goldberg B’nai B’rith Towers, a senior citizen HUD project of more than 300 residents. Holds a Bachelors degree in Education and served over 20 years as a kindergarten and pre-school teacher in South Africa and at the Houston JCC. Area of specialization: geriatrics.

Mal Finger, LBSW

Licensed Geriatric Professional with 13 years experience at JFS. He brings a set of interpersonal skills honed over many years to facilitate, encourage and enable JFS clients, especially those Senior Adults he serves, to successfully negotiate the perils of aging. Currently, as a member of the JFS Senior Adult Department, oversees the Lifeline Emergency Phone System Program and is the MIS Coordinator of the Information Technology Department of the agency. Areas of specialization: Client assessments, case management, info and referral, and provides empathetic counseling and consummate advocacy on behalf of his clients.

Rosalind Kalmans

On JFS staff since 1989. For 13 years served as the Supervisor of the JFS Refugee Resettlement Program for Houston. Currently serving as the case manager for the JFS Emergency Financial Assistance Program focused on those in the Houston Jewish Community going through a temporary economic crisis and serves as assistant to the agency’s Student Loan Program. Attended the University of Oklahoma with Elementary Education as course of study. Served as case manager for the Community Emergency Financial Assistance Program, which provided aid to the evacuees of the Jewish Community of New Orleans who were in Houston following Hurricane Katrina.

Ethan M. Klein, MSW

On JFS staff since May 2006. Holds a Masters degree in social work from the University of Houston. Previously worked at The Harris School (part of the Houston/Galveston Psychoanalytic Institute) with emotionally disturbed children for six years from 1998 until 2004. Participated in a one year internship at Baylor Adolescent Clinic as well as a one-year internship at the Baylor Psychiatry Clinic. Areas of specialization: family and couples counseling, child, adolescent and young adult therapy.

Lisa Levine, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker with ten years of clinical experience. Joined the JFS staff in December 2005. Holds a Masters degree in social work from the University of Texas in Austin. Currently serves as consultant to the BBYO Houston program and the Merfish Teen Center of the JCC. Teaches a Marriage 101 program twice a year as a collaborative project of JFS with the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and the Houston Rabbinical Association. The program is offered to engaged couples, newlyweds and those couples considering marriage. Began her career working with college students at Washington University in St. Louis, providing crisis intervention and counseling, with a particular focus on issues of acquaintance rape, interpersonal violence and stalking. Areas of specialization: individual therapy with adolescents and adults, couples therapy, depression, interpersonal violence, body image and disordered eating, women’s identity development.

Hope Lipnick, MA, LPC, CHTP

Jewish Denominational Chaplain at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Director of Jewish Chaplaincy at the Texas Medical Center. Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Psychological Associate, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and Reiki Master. Masters degree in Psychology and Certificate from Masters in Jewish Studies Program. Year-long Clinical Pastoral Education Fellow at MD Anderson, followed by a second year of Advanced Residency in CPE at MDA as a Fellow.

Judy P. Magids, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of clinical experience as a psychotherapist. On the staff of JFS since 1987 in the Community Mental Health Consultation Program. Through JFS, she is a consultant to preschools, Headstart Programs, after-school programs and summer camp programs. Her advanced post graduate training focuses on young children (birth to six) and on families.

Leah Mueller, LBSW

Licensed Geriatric Professional with 19 years of experience. Prior to joining the JFS staff in 200l, supervised the Chai Program at the Houston JCC. This is a transitional program for senior adults at the JCC catering to individuals 60+ who do not require adult day care services, but need a more structured and smaller program. Intergenerational programming has consistently played a role in her professional life since her student internship in 1987. Currently works in the JFS Senior Adult Services Department and is coordinator of the Jewish Senior Assessment Program of JFS. Holds a Bachelor of Science of Social Work from the Ohio State University with concentration in gerontology. Areas of specialization: senior assessment, info & referral, case management. Also have worked with Holocaust survivors to help them obtain Reparation money.

Toby Newman, MSW,ACSW, CGP, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker with 20 years experience. On JFS staff from 2000, as a clinician, and since 2002, as Director of Senior Adult Services. Holds a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Houston. A Diplomate in Clinical Social Work since 1993; a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers since 1989; and a Certified Group Psychotherapist since 1994. A trained Disaster Mental Health volunteer for the American Red Cross and the agency liaison to the United Way Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Adjunct Professor in the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Areas of specialization: physical illnesses, such as cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer’s Disease, assistance and advice on filing disability claims, grief and bereavement.

Ellen Rosenberg, M Ed

On JFS staff since 2004. Holds a Masters degree in Counseling. Previously worked as counselor at I. Weiner Middle School and as an elementary school teacher. Worked 15 years as a medical case manager. Currently serves as case manager (under the supervision of JFS Director of Senior Adult Services Department ) at The Pinemont, a senior citizen HUD subsidized low income housing project.

Mira Rueveni, LPC, M Ed

Licensed Professional Counselor and Family Therapy Supervisor with 30 years of clinical experience in counseling and psychotherapy. On JFS staff since 1989 specializing in psychotherapy with individuals, children, couples and families. Currently coordinator of Project Shalom, a program for chronically mentally ill adults and a consultant for the agency’s Community Mental Health Program for toddlers and preschool children in school settings. Graduate of Antioch College with post graduate clinical experience at The Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Philadelphia.

Rabbi Deborah Jill Schloss

Received rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary more than a decade ago. Provides pastoral and counseling services to Jewish patients and their families in various hospitals in the Texas Medical Center and surrounding area through the Houston Jewish Chaplaincy Program, a partnership of Jewish Family Service with the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Holds a double Masters degree in Jewish Communal Service and Public Administration from Hebrew Union College and University of Southern California. Studies, teaches and utilizes various forms of Jewish spirituality and healing.

Ruth S. Sherman, LBSW

Licensed Social Worker with a concentration in gerontology. On the JFS staff in the Senior Adult Services Department since 1989. Areas of specialization: assessments for environmental services, case management, information and referral, supportive casework, counseling and advocacy on behalf of clients. Also have worked with Holocaust survivors to help them obtain Reparation money.

Donald W. Wilson, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker with 40 years of experience. Director of Professional Services at JFS for the past 13 years. Responsible for program development and administration of all professional programs. Administrative and clinical supervision of staff in Family and Children Services, Career and Assessment Services, Resettlement and Adoption Services. He also coordinates professional staff training and psychiatric consultation. Served as Executive Director of the JFS of the Jewish Federation in Austin from 1989 until 1993. Prior to that, he was a Clinical Social Worker for Parkcrest Social Work Associates in Austin. Holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Texas as well as a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas in Austin. Specialization in individual and group therapy, sexual identify issues and death and dying.