Children & Adolescents

We all have a shared responsibility to protect children from harm, and each of us, regardless of our familial, social, communal, or professional role, can contribute to the overall safety of children. Creating safer communities begins with understanding what children need from the adults around them.

JCFS Occupational Therapist Ari Buslovich is celebrating the small victories of two of the young children she supports at Integrated Pediatric Therapies. 

Parenting is rarely a solo act. We rely on carpools, group chats, and friends who drop off dinner and say, “You’ve got this.”

In Jewish life, we call that kehillah - community that shows up not just when things are easy, but when they’re real. For foster and adoptive families, that kind of support isn’t just nice to have, it’s necessary.

Clinicians at Integrated Pediatric Therapies (IPT) often work with those they support in public or everyday settings to help them apply the skills they learn in the clinic to real-world environments. This process is called generalization.  

“For some kids, generalizing from the clinic is harder than for other kids,” said IPT Director Jennie Marble. “We try to work on that in a lot of different ways, and we make it a priority to include parents or caregivers in the process.” 

As the school year winds down, many parents are preparing for the transition to summer camp and unstructured time in between. This is an ideal time to start reviewing with your child how to set and maintain personal boundaries in this new environment.

Administrators of JCFS Chicago’s S.M.A.R.T. Kids abuse prevention program have been receiving positive feedback since implementing the initiative last February.

Open lines of communication between children and parents are vital in empowering young children to make safe choices and to keep themselves safe. JCFS Chicago has created a list of tips to help you create a welcoming environment for these important conversations.

JCFS Chicago partners with families and community organizations to help educate and find resources for teaching children the more sensitive topics such as child safety and abuse prevention.

Going back to school can bring excitement for some kids, and for others, trepidation and worry. The summer-to-school transition triggers many different types of anxieties, such as separating from caregivers, new routines, and navigating complex social situations at school. The most common anxieties for older children include peer acceptance, academic performance, and navigating familial relationships.

In honor of International Friendship Day, we want to highlight the importance of friendship in the role of personal and social development, as well as resources that JCFS Chicago offers to help children and teens build healthy connections.