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CONFIRMED PRESENTERS:

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Panelists & Presenters

PROGRAM & SCHEDULE

 

Kenneth Levitt, MSW

Ken Levitt is a Vice President of JSA. He is a former (retired) CEO of the Jewish Home for the Aged of British Columbia (1985-2002) He has served as an Instructor at the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University and as Adjunct Professor of Gerontology at the University of North Texas.


Kenneth has extensive experience in the fields of child welfare, public welfare, recreation and corrections. In 1985 he co-edited and was a contributor of a first major book on child welfare in Canada, "The Challenge of Child Welfare", UBC Press.

Topic of Presentation: Volunteers  and Peer Support Programs

The presentation will be about the Jewish Seniors Alliance (JSA) of Greater Vancouver and the Peer Support Programs we have initiated and have achieved much success.

Please note that our organization is operated by volunteer seniors as we do not have any paid professional leadership. Perhaps that makes us unique amongst Jewish communal organizations.

We will describe:

1. Background and history of peep support programs

2. Place of volunteers in helping agencies

3. History and background of JSA

4. Initiating the Peer Support Program

5. Recruiting peer support counselor trainees

6. Content of training program

7. Assignment of peer counselors and their supervision

8. Issues presented by clients

9. Quantifying our success

10. Issues: retaining peer counselors, funding

11. Value of Peer Support Program

12. Summary and  recommendations