Jewish Family & Children’s Service and Sojourner Center have announced a definitive agreement where JFCS will make Sojourner Center one of its programs combining with the existing domestic violence foot print. The Sojourner Center is one of the nation’s largest and longest-running domestic violence shelters. Under the terms of the agreement, Sojourner Center will operate as an affiliate subsidiary organization of JFCS, maintaining its own 501(c)(3) status. The combination is expected to increase efficiency and effectiveness to Sojourner Center and position JFCS as a leading domestic violence services provider in Arizona.
JFCS, one of the state’s largest providers of behavioral health and social services, has been a longtime partner of Sojourner Center. The two organizations share significant synergies in their missions and programs and an alignment in their organizational cultures which making it a natural fit. JFCS’ existing work in domestic violence programs, history of operational excellence, and robust fundraising capabilities will allow Sojourner Center to improve the long-term financial health of the organization.
“We welcomed the opportunity to make Sojourner Center part of the JFCS family of programs,” says Dr. Lorrie Henderson, president & CEO of Jewish Family & Children’s Service. “Sojourner Center’s role in providing critical, life-transforming services to victims of domestic violence cannot be overstated. We believe it is essential to make certain Sojourner Center is able to continue providing those services, and that’s what we did. JFCS prides itself in being a good community partner and believes this is yet another demonstration of that commitment.”
“This addition will cement Sojourner Center’s extraordinary legacy of providing safety, hope and healing to victims of domestic violence for many years to come,” says Dr. Paul Stander, Chairman of the JFCS board of directors. “The two organizations share a history of successful collaborations that made this partnership a perfect fit. JFCS is committed to ensuring the continued, long-term impact of Sojourner Center on the thousands of community members it serves.”
JFCS and Sojourner Center share a combined 120-year history of providing services to Arizonans in need. JFCS already operates a domestic violence program, Shelter Without Walls, which addresses the unmet needs of Maricopa County survivors of domestic violence and their children who are residing outside of a shelter setting. The acquisition solidifies JFCS’ continuum providing a full complement of services to survivors of domestic violence.
