Jewish Council for Youth Services

Early childhood education (childcare, preschool, enrichments and after-school programs) 648 children were served. Early childhood education lays the foundation for cognitive functioning and helps students develop emotionally, socially, and culturally. Children are given the opportunity to indulge in their natural inclinations to explore, investigate and experiment through play. They acquire the fundamental concepts and capacities that allow them to effectively absorb from and adapt to the ever-changing environment. After-school care provides a safe place for children of working parents to spend the hours between the end of the school day and the end of the work day, as well as school holidays and weekends.

The leadership development boot camp ("boot camp") is an annual one-day intensive training program in partnership with northwestern university kellogg school of management (kellogg). Kellogg customizes the curriculum with the jcys ceo, resulting in four personalized sessions led by kellogg faculty that provide board members and designates with the skills and knowledge to effectively fulfill their responsibilities as members of the jcys board of directors and to be better prepared to serve as leaders within the Jewish community. Boot camp takes place at northwestern's downtown campus and part of the training is open to board alumni and key staff, to encourage continuous learning for more experienced leaders. It began in 2019 as part of the visioning of the leadership circle, a directed path of leadership identification, recruitment, and development to the part of jcys' mission of training young Jewish leaders through board service.

Physical and social development (camping and recreation programs)203 individuals were served through the agency's physical & social development programs. Jewish Council for Youth Services offers a variety of camp experiences that challenge participants to try new activities and explore the world around them. Camp programming also helps children gain new social skills, develop gross motor and fitness skills, and cultivate positive relationships with peers and adults.