Jewish Association for Community Living assists people with developmental disabilities to participate in community life through personal empowerment, community engagement, family relationships, and quality services enhanced by Jewish tradition. JCL was founded by parents who wanted their children to continue to live in West Hartford, which is the community where they grew up. Creating homes in West Hartford for their children ensured that they would continue to be active members of a community that they were familiar with.

Group Homes

JCL group homes are homes first, programs second. When you enter one of our homes, it feels like your home. Our residents live and grow together, supporting each other with compassion and encouragement. Our homes are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by caring employees who ensure the health and safety of our residents.

Our staff ensure that our residents are taken care of in a safe and nurturing home. Our residents, chose how they want to spend their time. They like to relax, entertain their friends and family, watch movies, or head out into the community to shop, go to the movies, or out for dinner. Our compassionate staff are highly trained and ready to care for each person’s individual needs, whether it be assisting with good health and wellbeing, medication administration, attending appointments or just meeting daily goals.

Supported Living

In addition to group homes, JCL provides Supported Living services to twenty-one people who live independently in apartments throughout West Hartford and are supported by JCL staff. Supported Living provides people with disabilities greater independence than our group homes. The men and women who live in their own apartments accept a greater role in self-directing their own lives, have more say with whom they live, must use their own income to pay their bills, have independent access to their neighborhood and town, and spend time at home without the presence of staff. Daily support is provided by JCL staff, as needed. Some require only a couple of hours of staffing support a day, while others require more.

Day Supports

JCL provides Day Supports for adults with disabilities who live in nursing homes, assisted living, group homes, or supported living. JCL staff give individualized support based on the interest and capabilities of each person’s needs. The goal of Day Supports is to provide companionship through social experiences.

Judaic Programming

JCL offers a unique opportunity for Judaic Programming which provides approximately 20 opportunities throughout the year for people with and without disabilities to come together to celebrate and learn about the Jewish heritage. All of our events are free of charge and inclusive of all religions, abilities, genders, etc. At each event an activity is provided for every participant which they then can take home.