Annica Carlsson
Community Development/Program Coordinator
604.257.5151 ext. 1-230
Annica’s role involves the administration and coordination of the Jewish Food Bank, Project Isaiah (our yearly food drive) and Prison Hampers for Jewish inmates across BC during Rosh Hashanah and Passover. Annica concurrently works for JFSA (2 days a week) and L’Chaim Adult Day Centre at the JCC for 3 days a week. Annica immigrated to Canada from Sweden during the Centennial year. Annica worked for many years in the Health and Fitness field, graduating from George Brown College, Toronto with a Diploma in Adult Fitness. After a 12-year hiatus from Canada, Annica returned to the Vancouver area in 1991 and focused her passion for working with seniors beginning a 10-year tenure at the JCC as Seniors Coordinator. She then moved onto the Louis Brier as Volunteer Coordinator and came to JFSA’s doorstep in 2007 covering a maternity leave for the Home Support Program based out of our Seniors Department. Annica speaks Swedish.
Guy Askadsky, BSW
Basic Resources Case Manager
604.257.5151 ext. 1-224
Guy provides assessment, support and poverty relief counselling as Case Manager at the Basic Resources department.
Guy graduated from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem with BSW, and worked with new immigrants in Israel providing resettlement, housing, senior home care and mental health counselling as well as one-on-one therapy, combining CBT and phenomenological approaches in his social work practice. He also coordinated a large social housing complex for new immigrants in Jerusalem. Guy's fluency in Hebrew, Russian and Ukrainian languages, as well as some knowledge of Portuguese, German and Spanish have greatly contributed to his ability to work with clients from diverse backgrounds.
Isabelle St-Jean
Special Needs Coordinator
604.257.5151 ext. 1-223
Isabelle St-Jean, RSW is presently the Special Needs Coordinator at Jewish Family Services Agency. Her background includes over 15 years of experience in family counselling as well as social work in child protection and more recently in Community Living Services helping families who have children with special needs.
With her interest in working with people of different cultures and generations, Isabelle is keen to foster the value of inclusiveness and diversity in various organizations serving our community. As part of her role with JFSA, Isabelle is a resource to Jewish community institutions wanting to make their organizations more inclusive. Additionally, she acts as an information, support and referral hub to families of children and adults living with special needs. Isabelle also provides support and interactive presentations for those in major life transitions such as teenage to adulthood.
Jody Max, BSW
Basic Resources Case Manager
604.637.3316
Jody currently works as the full time Basic Resources Case Manager, providing poverty relief, crisis counseling, support, advocacy and referrals to people in our community who are living in poverty. Jody is also the contact for ASTEH house, our housing for women escaping domestic violence. Jody graduated from McGill University with a BSW and has over 15 years experience working with people living with and facing poverty, mental health issues, addictions, abuse and violence. Jody worked as a crisis counsellor, advocate and facilitator for over 10 years in transition houses for women escaping male violence, has been active in anti-violence and anti-poverty activism and organizing and brings a strong feminist framework to her work. Jody is fluent in French, can speak basic Spanish and is thrilled to be working in a Jewish environment, with such a hamish feel. Jody is passionate about social justice, anti-racism and anti-oppression work and believes that hope and social transformation come from building community, cultivating compassion, connections and respect across differences. Jody works Monday to Friday.
Laura Stannard
Housing Coordinator
604.637.3317
Laura Stannard is the Housing Coordinator for Jewish Family Service Agency and a founding director of Citywide Housing Coalition society. She has worked as an organizer and advocate for the Downtown Eastside Residents’ Association, Tenants’ Rights Action Coalition, and Downtown Granville Tenants Association. During the construction of GM Place (now Roger’s Arena) Laura worked with the Vancouver Canucks to develop BladeRunners, now an internationally-awarded employment program for street-involved youth. From 1991 to 2003 Laura was a board member with Triage Emergency Services & Care Society (now RainCity Housing), serving as President for the last two. In 2010, Laura was appointed to the Vancouver City Planning Commission, under the sponsorship of JFSA.
Rebecca Denham
Mental Health Outreach Worker
604.257.5151 ext. 1-232
Rebecca Denham is the JFSA’s Mental Health Outreach Worker. In this role Rebecca is pleased to be able to provide services such as mental health assessments, cognitive behaviour therapy, reintegration programs and accompaniment to social activities here in the Jewish community. The Mental Health Outreach program is directed by the needs of the participants and so clients receive mental health services tailored to their individual needs.
Rebecca relocated to Vancouver in 2009 from the nation’s capital, where she graduated from Carleton University and worked in the social service field for ten years. Rebecca believes that a healthy lifestyle contributes to a healthy community and loves the outdoor opportunities that the west coast has to offer. Whenever possible, Rebecca tries to incorporate natural and healthy choices into the recovery plans of her clients.
