When people say it takes a village to raise a child, the same is true when caring for older adults.
Here at SFCJL, we are fortunate to have incredible community partners that deepen, diversify, and enrich the lives of our patients and residents. And for many of our partners—human and canine alike—their time on campus enriches their lives, too. We celebrate and appreciate our community partners for their patience, creativity and devotion to the older adults who call us home, whether for a few weeks or a few years.
Pets with Purpose
For more than 40 years, the San Francisco SPCA Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program has facilitated communication and healing by sharing the love of companion animals with those facing mental, physical, or educational challenges. SPCA dogs visit our campus weekly and remind us to pay attention to simple joys pets bring.
Jewish and Spiritual Life
In partnership with the Brandeis School of San Francisco, Congregation Emanu-El, Peninsula Temple Beth-El and Jewish Family and Children’s Services Summer Internship, youth and adult volunteers participate in intergenerational activities and Jewish lifecycles. For instance, 8th graders at Brandeis have volunteered for nearly every Shabbat on our campus for the last five years, and last year their first-graders performed on campus!
Educational Opportunities
SFCJL is an inspiring first professional experience for hundreds of teenagers every year. We thank the following career training programs for sending their remarkable students to volunteer and work on our campus:
- Enterprise for Youth: Founded in 1969, Enterprise for Youth seeks to empower young people with college and career readiness through workforce development. Students work on our campus as part of their paid internship experiences during the school year and in the summer. Participants who complete the program apply and enroll at higher rates for post-secondary education. Watch them talk about their experience in the video below.
- ACHIEVE: This after-school program for students from Mercy and Riordan high schools requires 100 hours of community service over a four-year period. Many students come to SFCJL after school and on the weekends to help in a variety of departments that cultivate life and job readiness skills.
- Career Pathways Program at John O’Connell High School: This SFUSD high school is known for its unique integrated pathways designed around project-based learning and real-world applications. As a hub for the Health and Behavioral Sciences pathway, students work in our clinical settings with physical therapists, nurses and life enrichment coordinators every Wednesday morning during the school year.