A $40,000 grant to benefit older adults who live in West Rogers Park is among the more than $200,000 in funding being released by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Here is the news release from the organization:

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago has granted more than $200,000 for continuing projects designed to support vulnerable populations and address emerging needs in Chicago’s Jewish community.

The funds come from the Federation’s Priority Grants Program, which provides start-up funding for new programs and services that address unmet and emerging communal needs. If the program is successful after three years, Priority Grant funds are integrated into the regular budget of the sponsoring agency. To date, 93 projects have become fixtures in the community.

“At a time of continued economic distress, the programs approved for continued Priority Grant funding are assisting the most vulnerable members of our community – children, seniors, and the urban poor,” said David T. Brown, chairman of the Federation’s Overall Planning and Allocations Committee. “They have a proven record, and we stand behind them for another year.”

All of the programs receiving renewal funding are operated by the Jewish Federation or one of four of its beneficiary and affiliate agencies.

Just over $100,000 will support programs at Chicago-area Jewish day schools.

A project supporting children with learning and educational disabilities will receive $63,440. The program offers specialized services that engage the students and help them stay in school and participate in classroom activities. During the 2009-2010 school year, 334 students at three pilot schools participated, and no one was removed from school.

Another $40,000 will continue a Sinai Health System program that sends a traveling nurse consultant to the six Associated Talmud Torah schools, which serve more than 3,100 students from preschool to eighth grade and have 180 staff.

The remaining Priority Grants will support efforts geared toward adults in need.

A grant of $40,000 will help care for caregivers through Jewish Child & Family Services’ Respite Across the Lifespan program. Families that care for a relative with disabilities or chronic illness have access to in-home respite services through the project. Last year, 31 families received more than 2,800 hours of respite care within the first six months.

Another $40,000 grant will benefit older adults who live in West Rogers Park and Peterson Park. Called LaBriut (Hebrew for “to your health”), the program promotes healthy living and offers services for seniors who are “aging in place” – staying in their homes rather than moving to senior residential facilities – for as long as possible. LaBriut offers traditional programs such as cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, as well as nutrition advice and cultural events.

“CJE’s mission is to support older adults where they are. If we know people are living at home, what can we do to help them live better at home?” said Gerri Fiterman Persin, manager for the Center for Healthy Living, where LaBriut is housed. “Older adults are sometimes hard to serve because their needs change so fast. We can be flexible. We’re really focused on seeing what people’s needs are and how to address them.”

There also is a $20,000 grant for a Dina and Eli Field EZRA Multi-Service Center program that helps the homeless, or those on the verge of homelessness, find apartments. In existence since 2008, Kesher Bayit: Connection to Housing achieved nearly 50 successful moves into safe and affordable homes in 2010. Meanwhile, Housing Coordinator Amy Haynes has helped more than 110 EZRA clients search for apartments and build a budget, and also assisted with referrals for landlords, subsidized apartment lists or supporting housing programs.