Staff Spotlight: Kara Jezeski
When people contact Family Service Rochester (FSR) looking for help, they don't always know exactly what they need or where to begin. For the past ten years, Kara Jezeski has been one of the people helping them find their way.
As FSR's Intake Specialist, Kara helps connect individuals and families with counseling and other services, both within FSR and throughout the community. Her work involves much more than scheduling appointments or processing referrals. Often, it begins with listening.
“People are calling in, they know they need help, but they don't know what they need help with. They don't know where to start,” Kara explains.
Some callers are frustrated after contacting several organizations without finding answers. Others may be overwhelmed by their circumstances or uncertain about which services are available. Kara takes time to hear their stories, understand their needs, and help identify a reasonable next step.
Sometimes that means connecting someone with FSR's counseling or family services. Other times, it means directing them to community resources for legal assistance, food support, or help for a child struggling in school.
“It's more than giving them what Family Service offers,” she says. “There are things that aren't in our realm that we can't offer, and we do have to connect them and kind of bridge that gap.”
For Kara, some of the most rewarding moments come when a caller who initially seems overwhelmed begins to feel some relief.
“They've made some sort of connection. They have a starting point,” she says. “They may still have to make calls. They still may have to seek other services elsewhere, not through us. But just like it's that first step of like, okay, I've got something.”
Kara joined FSR ten years ago as an Intake Administrative Assistant, following earlier work with the Boys & Girls Club. Over the years, her position has evolved to include intake for outpatient counseling, school-based mental health, family-based services, and Neighbors Helping Neighbors. She also assists with records requests, referrals, reporting, and administrative support for clinical services.
Originally from Stewartville, Kara now lives in Chatfield with her husband and children. Alongside her work and family responsibilities, she is completing a bachelor's degree in psychology. Her interest in working with children, particularly those who have experienced trauma or difficult family circumstances, has grown through her experiences at the Boys & Girls Club and FSR. She is also passionate about foster care and adoption.
Kara hopes to continue building a career working with children and is considering further education in social work. She sees opportunities for that work at FSR, although she hasn't yet decided exactly what direction her career will take.
Reflecting on her decade with the organization, Kara appreciates FSR's commitment to the people it serves, even as programs, funding, and community needs have changed.
“The focus is still always on the clients. How can we best serve the people in our community?” she says. “I love that about Family Service Rochester. It's just always people focused.”
She also values the organization's flexibility and support for employees balancing work and family responsibilities. Having started at FSR when her oldest child was just six months old, Kara appreciates being able to remain committed to her work while also being present for her family.
But the people she helps remain central to why she enjoys her job.
“I just love talking to people on the phone. I love hearing people's stories. I love the work that I do. I love FSR's mission.”
For Kara, helping someone find a place to start is often the first meaningful step toward getting the support they need.
