Jewish Family Navigator program helps families address disabilities

Velvet Spicer//February 5, 2018//

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Rochester-area residents have a new resource for coping with a family member’s disability.

The newly instituted Jewish Family Navigator program is a partnership between AutismUp and the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, with funding support from the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation.

The program, which serves a specific pocket in the community, aims to address the question of how and where to access support for family members who have been diagnosed with a disability, while helping institutions meet the needs of their diverse constituents. It is one of three navigator programs AutismUp is involved with.

“AutismUp’s Navigator Program is a comprehensive, family-centered approach to care coordination,” said AutismUp Executive Director Sarah Milko in a statement. “The Rochester Jewish Community Navigator is one of only three across the country, and joins our existing Family Navigators located at the URMC Levine Autism Clinic and at AutismUp.”

Milko said the partnership with the Jewish Federation will serve as the model for the expansion of the program across the community, improving access and outcomes for individuals with autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families.

“For the Jewish Federation, the creation of this position will bring our efforts to elevate the needs of those with differing abilities to the next level,” said Jewish Federation CEO Meredith Dragon. “Over the last two years we have invested significant resources to enhance the ability of our local religious schools and early childhood programs to include children with differing needs.”

The program—which AutismUp officials said they hope is the start of many community-based navigator programs in the region—launches Feb. 7 at an 8 a.m. program at the Jewish Federation.

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