JCARES: Jewish Community Abuse Resources, Education and Solutions
Celebrate with us as we mark 10 years of education, advocacy and collaboration. View our "10 for 10" calendar of continuing education sessions for professionals.
JCARES is a diverse coalition that educates, advocates and collaborates to promote innovative policies and practices addressing abuse across the Jewish community and beyond.
Rooted in Jewish values and empowered by the combined strength of coalition members, JCARES is a catalyst for systemic change that supports healthy relationships, homes and communities. Its primary programs are:
- JCARES Training & Networking Initiative
- JCARES Safer Synagogues Initiative
- Advocacy & Public Awareness
- The JCARES Coalition
Upcoming JCARES Trainings
Power, Privilege & Gender: Recognizing Societal Influences
Training & Networking Initiative
JCARES Training & Networking Initiative offers continuing education sessions for Chicagoland professionals and leaders across disciplines. The sessions are designed to provide participants with knowledge, tools and strategies to become more effective and sensitive responders to abuse victims, and to be more confident and comfortable when supporting victims.Training topics cover caring services that span generations, from keeping children safe to dating violence to elder abuse. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for social workers/counselors, ICDVPs for domestic violence professionals, and CPDU’s for educators.
Partnership for Safer Synagogues Initiative
The JCARES Partnership for Safer Synagogues Initiative engages congregational leadership in learning and discussing the impact of abuse across the lifespan, toward improving congregant’s access to support regarding abusive situations, such as domestic abuse, teen dating violence, substance abuse and elder abuse.
Click here for more details about the Partnership for Safer Synagogues initiative.
Advocacy and Public Awareness
JCARES Advocacy and Public Awareness efforts emphasize innovative, collaborative action that influences legislation, impacts policies and transforms attitudes and behaviors about violence prevention, intervention and treatment. Community awareness and education events are held periodically in partnership with other organizations.
JCARES Coalition
The JCARES Coalition is a collective of Jewish social service agencies, government representatives and secular organizations dedicated to ending violence in Jewish homes and families. The coalition also includes advocates, researchers and abuse survivors.
Coalition members include: Am Shalom, American Conference of Cantors, A Safe Place, Between Friends, Center for Contextual Change, Center on Halsted, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), Chicago Police Department, Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Violence Division, Congregation Am Shalom, Office of the Cook County State's Attorney, CJE Senior Life, EZRA Multi-Service Center, HIAS Chicago, Hadassah, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Jewish Healing Network of Chicago, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Jewish Women International, Jewish Vocational Service, Michael Reese Health Trust, National Council of Jewish Women, Project Shield, Rape Victim Advocates, Response, Services for People with Disabilities, SHALVA, South Suburban Family Shelter, YWCA Evanston/North Shore, individual abuse survivors, advocates, educators and therapists.
Support & Funding
JCARES is supported by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, the Michael Reese Health Trust and other generous supporters. JCFS is a partner in serving the community supported by the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation.
For more information, please click here to contact Betsy Lazerow, JCARES Outreach Coordinator, or call 847-745-5430.