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Ups, downs, and everything in between are all a normal part of the roller coaster of adolescence. Most of us have been there ourselves, but as a parent, guardian, or trusted adult of a teen, it can be hard to know how to best offer support. Focusing on creating an accepting, judgement-free environment might be the most important part. Here are some tools for engaging non-judgmental conversations:  

Mental health is for everyone.

That statement might seem clear, but the mental health needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are very often overlooked or perceived as behavioral issues, rather than those that are amenable to mental health treatment, said Tammy Besser, Clinical Supervisor for JCFS Chicago’s Services for People with Disabilities.

During May, we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and fostering resilience. Falling in the heart of spring, May brings blossoming flowers, baby animals, and for many, a renewed sense of hope. Hope, often dismissed as a mere sentiment, is in fact a vital psychological force.

Earth Month is celebrated nationally in April, but students at Knapp School & Yeshiva demonstrate they care about the environment throughout the entire school year. The school already had recycling services in place, as well as the means to compost, but the latter wasn’t organized in a productive way, said Troye Evers, who teaches students in the Transition Program.

Residents of the integrated community living homes supported by JCFS Chicago are brushing up on their hygiene practices with guidance from JCFS Occupational Therapist Jamie Norris. Jamie has been meeting with residents from each home separately for three sessions, tailoring the lessons to the needs of each group.

When Boris arrived in the United States from Ukraine through HIAS Immigration & Citizenship more than 20 years ago, his primary goal was to find a job so he could support his family. Since then, he has helped other new refugees secure employment at the same company he has worked at for the last 23 years.

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.

Early childhood clinicians from JCFS Chicago’s Integrated Pediatric Therapies (IPT) and the Virginia Frank Child Development Center (VFCDC) are teaming up this spring to offer a class for new parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support their baby’s early developmental journey. Read further or learn more about the class and register here.

JCFS Chicago is proud to partner with Keshet to offer First Friends, a welcoming, play-based program for families of infants and toddlers with disabilities or complex medical needs. 

There is a particular kind of weight that settles in during prolonged uncertainty. It does not always come from a single loss. Grief does not only follow death. It can also arise from what feels fragile, unresolved, or uncertain.