When you are not sure where to start: How IRC helps people find the right support

By Skylar Peterson, LSW • Intake and Resource Connection Program Manager

Reaching out for help is rarely straightforward. Most people do not come to JFCS of Minnesota knowing exactly what service they need. They come because something feels difficult, confusing, urgent, or just more than they’d want to handle alone.

That is where Intake and Resource Connection (IRC) comes in.

A starting point, not a single path

IRC is often the first point of contact for individuals, families, and community members reaching out to JFCS. Our role is simple at its core, but broad in practice. We listen, ask a few thoughtful questions, help make sense of what is going on, and then help identify possible next steps, whether that is through JFCS programs or community resources.

Every call, email, or inquiry looks a little different. Some people might be looking for counseling or support for a family member. Others may be trying to figure out services for an older adult to access food or transportation. Many are unsure what they need at all. They just know something is not working and they do not want to figure it out alone. IRC is here for all of that.

Connection across a growing region

As we’ve united services across the Twin Cities metro, IRC continues to be a consistent entry point for individuals and families across the region. Wherever someone is reaching out from, IRC helps connect them to the right JFCS programs and to local community resources that fit their needs and location. We’re working closely with community partners, county-based navigators, food and aging service networks, and other regional collaboratives to make sure referrals are relevant and accessible.

We also draw on staff experience across many areas of human services, including mental health, case management, crisis support, aging services, family systems, and community-based care. That range of experience helps us understand complex situations, ask the right questions, and figure out what support might fit.

From there, we help people sort through options. Sometimes that means connecting directly to a JFCS of Minnesota program. Other times it means sharing community resources or helping clarify what next step makes the most sense.

How the first conversation can feel different

We know reaching out for help can come with uncertainty, hesitation, or even worry about what to expect. IRC is designed to make that first conversation feel a little less overwhelming.

We often talk with people who are reaching out for the first time and are not quite sure what support even looks like yet. By the end of the conversation, things may not be “solved,” but there is usually more clarity about options and next steps. While IRC is a time-limited service, our hope is that people leave feeling like it was worth reaching out and that there are next steps available.

How to connect with IRC

IRC is available by phone, email, and online inquiry form. You do not need to know exactly what service you are looking for before reaching out.

Phone: 952-542-4843
Email: intake@jfcsmn.org
Online: www.jfcsmn.org/help/

A place to begin

Support does not always start with certainty. Sometimes it starts with a question, a concern, or just a feeling that things should not have to stay the way they are.

IRC is here for that first step.