Newly retired after 25 years as head of Family Services, Dayton, Bonnie Parish now accepting appointments.

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer

When Bonnie Parish retired in June from Family Services, Dayton, Ohio after 25 years as its executive director, she wanted to return to her roots in clinical counseling. She’s now Jewish Family Services’ mental health clinician.

“I want to do what I’ve been trained to do,” Bonnie says. “I got too much into the thick of administration. I like to do the counseling piece. I just want to help people and counsel people.”

Bonnie’s work with JFS marks the Jewish Federation agency’s return to clinical counseling services after an absence of more than a decade. It’s also a homecoming for Bonnie.

“This is my third time with a Jewish Family Services. I worked twice at Jewish Family Services in Columbus, so I’m familiar with the environment and the mission,” she says. “I worked there shortly after I graduated, and then when they were working with HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) on Russian Jewish immigration.”

A native of Barberton, a suburb of Akron, Bonnie received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Ohio State and her master’s degree in social work from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vt. She’s a licensed independent social worker and licensed professional clinical counselor in Ohio, with supervision designations.

She brings a lifetime of experience in the field and has taught at Capital University, Clark State Community College, Columbus State Community College, Miami University, Ohio State, and Sinclair Community College.

Bonnie currently serves on the ethics committee of Graceworks and is past chair of both the Family Service Council of Ohio and CountyCorp in Montgomery County.

“We are so excited to have Bonnie join our team,” JFS Executive Director Brian Kerstine says. “Adding mental health services to our JFS programming allows us to better meet the needs of our community.”

Ready to see clients
Bonnie says she offers any kind of clinical intervention in her counseling that people feel they need.

“It can be support for transitions in life, grief work, anything somebody would want to seek outside counseling or outside help for — I want to do that. I know from my years in Columbus at Jewish Family Services that oftentimes, counseling with a Jewish perspective is important.”

While she is on a part-time schedule, Bonnie emphasizes that her hours are flexible to ensure there won’t be a waiting list.

“I don’t want to have to turn anybody away if they get to the point that they want to ask for help. I want to be there. I’ll see them right away.”

She adds that JFS won’t turn anyone away who can’t afford to pay.

This fall, Bonnie will also offer support groups, “a grief group and maybe a divorce group or something that’s been missing in the community for some time.”

Bonnie joins the JFS team with Brian, who specializes in vocational services; Social Worker Kate Scarpero, who handles case management; Administrative Assistant Jacquelyn Archie; and Transportation Service Driver Nate Lyons.

“It’s going to take time to build counseling up again,” Bonnie says. “It’s part of the tradition of Jewish Family Services.”

To schedule an appointment with JFS Mental Health Clinician Bonnie Parish, call 937-401-1542.

To read the complete August Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.