Each March, National Social Work Month recognizes the impact social workers deliver while providing services to children and adults in need. This month, we'll be taking time to celebrate and get to know some of the dedicated social workers across DOROT.
Yael Kornfeld, Social Work Supervisor, Synagogue Liaison
What does a social worker actually do?
A social worker supports their clients and works to elevate their client’s quality of life, whether that is through connections to concrete services, supportive outreach, ensuring their client’s safety and doing what they can for the betterment of the individuals they serve. Here at DOROT, we provide support and care. We reach out to the older adults we work with on a regular basis. We try to explore if they would benefit from DOROT programs and resources, or if they are in need of a referral to another agency.
What do you do at DOROT?
One of my primary roles at DOROT is on the Synagogue Initiative team. DOROT is partnered with 10 synagogues on the east and west sides of Manhattan and I serve as the liaison between DOROT and a number of those synagogues. I support older adults, caregivers, lay leaders, and clergy in addition to committees and special projects at these various institutions.
I also oversee the social work seminar program at DOROT. Each academic year DOROT has about 10 social work interns who are placed with us. I coordinate the placements with the social work schools and facilitate monthly gatherings for the interns. During these monthly meetings the students learn more about DOROT, they share case presentations, and outside speakers come to present. It provides an opportunity for the interns in all different departments within DOROT to come together and get to know one another, provide support and have a communal experience during their time here.
I’m also really excited to be supporting the vaccine assistance efforts at DOROT right now. As a social worker that supports older adults, I feel that it is my duty at this time to help older adults in the community get their COVID vaccine. Whatever DOROT can do to further that effort feels critical and I am proud to be on the team.
What is something that you love about your work?
I enjoy that the work that I do at DOROT has always been a combination of direct work with older adults and also working with many other individuals within the community. I love that sometimes my work means meeting a lay leader at a coffee shop to discuss his/her synagogue and how DOROT could support them through a specific need. Mostly, I believe passionately in serving and supporting older adults, and I love that my work at DOROT, regardless of what I am doing, always works towards that mission.
More about Yael:
Yael Kornfeld, LCSW, is a social work supervisor at DOROT. She has served as the Synagogue Liaison for the past nine years working with a number of different synagogues across Manhattan. Yael also oversees the social work intern seminar, coordinating monthly sessions and supporting both the MSW interns and supervisors throughout the year.
For information on all DOROT programs, services and resources, call 212-769-2850.