Program areas at JCFS
Emotional Well-Being - JCFS masters and doctorate level clinicians offer short- and long-term therapy, along with case management services for children, teens, adults, couples and families in an emotionally safe setting where they can find solutions to the challenges they face. Clinically expert and relentlessly caring counseling staff promote personal growth for their clients in response to a variety of issues, including: anxiety, depression, illness and loss, mental health, family conflict, life transitions and more. In addition, we provide integrative counseling services and psychological testing to understand learning differences, cognitive, emotional and other mental health disorders. Response for Teens empowers youth to make healthy life choices through an array of services including prevention, outreach, counseling, leadership and sexual health education. Through community-centered services JCFS offers a wide range of education, support and advocacy programs that address issues impacting Jewish homes, families and the community across the lifespan. Including such services as: professional training and consultation, community awareness, support groups, pastoral counseling, cultural sensitivity trainings and education support for institutions.The Virginia Frank Child Development Center (VFCDC) is a nationally recognized pioneer in the field of family-centered child development and offers a continuum of preventative and therapeutic services for children from birth to six years, including counseling for children, their parents and families.HIAS provides an array of comprehensive, cost-effective immigration and citizenship services to hundreds of individuals. Services include: refugee resettlement, green card assistance, citizenship preparation classes, family-based immigration services, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, restitution assistance for Holocaust survivors, along with academic scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.
Career and Employment Services - Career and Employment services positively impact the lives of more than 1,500 people annually by working with individuals facing unemployment, underemployment, a career change or those in need of education and training, counseling, coaching, job placement and retention assistance. We connect employers to qualified job seeker through our customized matching of candidates to open positions, outplacement services and networking opportunities. JCFS is the only Chicago non-profit career and employment provider that offers outplacement services by offering an affordable, quality plan to help transitioning employees through formal career assessment, job search tools and employment strategies. We offer events and seminars through our Employer Partner Program on such topics as: addressing initial concerns of hiring people with disabilities, identifying productivity enhancements/reasonable accommodations, increasing diversity in your workforce, starting a mentorship program. Our career counselors empower and support job seekers of all ages who have been impacted by unemployment or underemployment through career assessment, planning and education. Two short-term, industry-specific training programs helps individuals to gain knowledge, confidence, and the tools to secure stable employment. Janitorial training includes paid on-the-job work experience that can be applied to various work environments.Individualized employment entails personalized services to individuals with disabilities by developing an employment plan that includes job search strategies, resume building, and mock interviews. In addition, job coaching provides on-site job support to people with disabilities.
Special Education - The JCFS Knapp School (formerly named JCFS Therapeutic Day School) uses a strengths-based approach to the education of K-12+ students with diverse academic, social and emotional needs. Guided by empathic and trauma-informed practices we focus on the whole child, allowing each student to partner with their school team in a shared process that allows for opportunities to discover and develop their potential in the journey to become their best self.
Disability Services - Staffed by expert pediatric therapists and clinicians, our integrated pediatric therapy services bring a family-focused approach to the treatment of developmental delays, disruptive behaviors and social, emotional and cognitive issues using a variety of methods, such as: physical, speech, language, feeding/ swallowing and occupational therapy, along with aqua and yoga physical therapy. Developmental social groups offer guided interaction with peers that helps children develop social skills. Services for people with disabilities and their families include social opportunities and residential options like community-based group living that is inclusive and accessible for all. Additional services offered: home-based waiver for children and adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities, respite support and relief, Sibshops, support, assistance and training for independent living, and educational and support groups covering a variety of topics of interest to people with disabilities, family members and professionals.Employment assistance is available to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through its customized employment program. Customizing employment is more inclusive and provides adults with disabilities options beyond day programs and sheltered workshops by matching the strengths, conditions and interests of a job candidate and the identified business needs of an employer. Staff are trained in a special blend of flexible strategies, services and supports that are designed to increase employment options for job seekers with severe challenges who need a more individualized approach.
Child Welfare - JCFS Child Welfare Services provide intensive support to high-risk children in foster care to stabilize placements and prevent entry into higher levels of care. For families formed through adoption or subsidized guardianship whose children are experiencing emotional, education, medical or behavioral issues, our clinicians provide services in Spanish and English that include home-based individual and family therapy, grief counseling, crisis intervention and serve as a court, school or community advocates.