For years Sybil worried what would happen to her son, Michael, who lives with schizophrenia and OCD, when she grew too old to support his ongoing needs. It’s a common concern for parents with children who have disabilities.

Thankfully, Sybil — and other parents just like her — have somewhere to turn. The UJA-Federation of New York Community Trusts are designed for individuals with disabilities and are used to enhance a person’s quality of life without jeopardizing government entitlements.

Active for more than 20 years, Community Trusts currently serve approximately 250 individuals.

What makes Community Trusts so unique is that there is also a human service component. Each person is assigned an advocate from the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, a UJA-Federation beneficiary agency, who acts as a set of eyes and ears for support.

The advocate does not provide direct care but checks in with the individual to make sure things are going okay, and provides assistance for everything from emotional support to requesting bills get paid and navigating the medical system, if needed.

“My advocate helped me to find a place to live and manage my bills,” Michael says.

Michael now enjoys his home in Brooklyn where he watches his favorite T.V. show, “The Odd Couple,” and attends religious studies classes. His goal is to go to school and practice alternative health as a chiropractor.

“Through UJA-Federation Community Trusts, we found a life, my son found a life,” Sybil says.

To learn more about the Trusts, call 212.836.1150 or e-mail .