By Deb Silverthorn

Jewish Family Service of Dallas has moved to its new home — the Karla and Larry Steinberg Building. The doors opened Monday, March 2, at the 16301 Quorum Drive campus in Addison.

“We are excited to share our new space where we hope to grow over the next 75 years and beyond and where we will embark on our future,” said Cathy Barker, JFS president and CEO. “There are so many memories around the Zale Building and we will take those memories, and the good, hard work we’ve done through the years as we expand literally, and in all the ways, in our new space.”

JFS, which called the Edna Zale Building home for 25 years, is just one mile from its former location and four times the size. Many donors helped provide the expanded space, which brings more services together under one roof.

The Karla and Larry Steinberg Building now houses the JFS Parkside Health Center, with services like those offered at JFS’ Northpoint Health Center. 

It also has an expanded Food Pantry with more shopping space, a larger kosher section and private areas to meet with clients.

Behavioral health services are provided in more than 40 therapy and case management rooms, along with additional group therapy spaces. The building also includes a children’s services wing with additional play therapy rooms and a new sensory gym. 

For JFS’ Older Adult Services, there is centralized care coordination and space for preparing and packaging kosher home-delivered meals.

PLAN Clubhouse & Connections Program has resettled in its redesigned, dedicated space. Career & Financial Services features coaching offices, training rooms and the AT&T Connected Learning Center. In addition, there is approximately 20,000 square feet available as lease space to share with partners, including NCJW Dallas and Jewish National Fund, whose missions align with JFS in supporting education, health care, housing, economic stability and community connections.

The Karla and Larry Steinberg Building was motivated by the Steinbergs’ long-standing commitment to helping others and their belief in the organization’s mission to serve people in need. The donation isn’t just financial, they said, but also a statement of support for the agency’s expansion to a new, larger facility and its impact on the community at large.

“We are especially drawn to JFS’ mission and ‘open door’ philosophy. We believe and want our support to help many who are struggling or in need,” said Karla Steinberg, who with her husband has a long history of volunteerism and philanthropy in the Dallas area, both within and beyond the Jewish community. “This gift is intended to enable JFS to expand, to consolidate and to enhance its services in a way that will benefit far more individuals and families for generations to come.”

Reuben D. Rotman, who will speak at the March 26 ribbon-cutting event, is president and CEO of the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies. Established in 2017 and supporting more than 180 member organizations, the NJHSA’s mission is to strengthen and advance the Jewish human service sector.

“I look forward to celebrating the new space and the amazing model of wraparound, holistic care and the full array of services that JFS Dallas provides,” he said. “JFS is the place to find support and navigate so many of life’s challenges seamlessly.

“Cathy is a visionary, always five, 10 or 20 steps ahead,” Rotman added. “She is thoughtful, methodical and leads a team that makes sure everyone who comes through their doors is seen and heard.”

On Thursday, March 5, JFS hosted its fourth annual Jewish Community Leadership Breakfast at the new space. The event brought together 60 leaders from throughout the Jewish community, including representatives from Jewish day schools, congregations and organizations such as the Dallas Hebrew Free Loan Association, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas and National Council of Jewish Women Dallas.

The morning gave JFS leaders the opportunity to share updates on services, answer questions and gain valuable insights on how the organization can continue to meet the evolving needs of the community.

“Our annual breakfast allows us to make sure all the agencies know what we have to offer and it allows us a chance to hear what they need,” said Barker, whose focus is meeting community and stakeholder needs. “It’s an open discussion from which our guests leave with a toolkit of information to support their faculties, students and congregants. We are here to help everyone.

“Our goal, of course, is to reduce the number of those struggling,” she continued, “to increase our communication and to serve as many people as possible.”

Robert French, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, said “the support of JFS, in this world with so much tension, is phenomenal and that is led by Cathy Barker, who I am so honored to call a colleague.”

French said the work of JFS is greatly needed, and the Federation is proud to support its growth. “Our dollars, which come from so many in this community, help make this happen, and I’m proud of what, and how, JFS does so much for so many.”

For Barker and her team, reaching out — and welcoming in — those French described is a priority.

“For those in our community, ages 3 to 103 and outside even those parameters, we are here at every turn in life.”