As one of the pillars outlined in the agency’s Strategic Plan, Catalyze reflects our commitment to accelerating impact by transforming how our services are delivered. By leveraging our partnerships with organizations such as the JCC, The Ark, Keshet, and CJE SeniorLife (CJE), JCFS Chicago has expanded its reach, strengthened community connections, and better met the needs of those we serve.

The following examples highlight just a few of the many ways JCFS works with community partners to expand access to services and enhance support for people of all ages and abilities.

Clinicians from Integrated Pediatric Therapies (IPT) have already been supporting children at the JCCs, and recently three Virginia Frank Child Development Center clinicians and a psychologist from Psychological Services completed a six-month contract providing social work support to four JCC locations in Chicago and the suburbs.

They visited each JCC location weekly to deliver early childhood mental health support for teachers, parents and children in the programs. 

“A lot of the activities match what we have done traditionally in our infant and early childhood mental health consultation,” said Linnet Mendez, Senior Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health and Director of the Virginia Frank Child Development Center. “I’m feeling good about how the collaboration is going.”

Linnet said they are moving forward with re-contracting with the JCCs to continue to support them in the same capacity next year. 

Clinicians will also be providing services at The Ark, another partner agency, which Linnet said is being added as a Medicaid site. 

“Individuals who go to The Ark for food and financial assistance, and to talk with their case manager, can also see their therapist while they’re there,” Linnet said. “And hopefully this will also result in more referrals from people that are able to come to a JCFS office for services.”

They plan to start with two clinicians who have experience working with the Orthodox Jewish community.

For the past four years, the Ark has also been the location for the annual Hanukkah party for families built by adoption—parents, children, teens and prospective adoptive parents.  

“Each year, The Ark staff comes up with creative service opportunities for families of all ages and abilities,” said Andrea Jacobs, Jewish Community Liaison and Coordinator for Adoption & Family-Building Support. “Past projects have included assembling gift bags, sorting food, stocking shelves, packing pantry items, unloading donations, and writing cards.”

Andrea said the event is so popular that attendees contact her early in the year so they can save the date for the next celebration.

“Families tell us they value the sense of connection and community this event provides and appreciate being with others who understand their journey,” Andrea said. “Each year, parents and children enjoy being with friends they've met through JCFS programs while welcoming and getting to know newer families.”

The JCFS chaplaincy program has been providing pastoral support at Ezra Multi-Service Center (Ezra) and CJE SeniorLife for many years. As the chaplaincy program expands, so does its reach across these agencies.

“We are so grateful our chaplaincy program is growing and expanding, servicing ever increasing needs in the Jewish community,” said Rabbi Joseph “Joe” Ozarowski, D. Min., BCC Rabbinic Counselor and Chaplain.   

Rabbi Joe visits Ezra once a month to run an educational and support group for the individuals who use the Center’s services. Drawing on themes from the Jewish calendar, he leads discussions that explore broader values and issues relevant to participants' daily lives. Rabbi Dr. Pinchas Zusis, JCFS Chicago’s Russian-speaking chaplain, also occasionally gives presentations at the Center, including one in observance of Pesach.

This year, Rabbi Zusis also led a series of programs at residential communities operated by CJE. He spoke about holidays, including Purim, and incorporated music in his presentations.    

Students in the transition program at Knapp School & Yeshiva also visited CJE to do volunteer work that usually involved cleaning. The transition program gives students who are over 18 years old the opportunity to experience working and volunteering outside of the classroom. 

“With the growth of the transition program, we are also working on building our partnership with CJE and other establishments,” said Troye Evers, the teacher who runs the transition program.

Troye’s students also volunteered at Chesed Chicago, where they stocked shelves and helped organize supplies and donations.

And finally, servicing the youngest in our community, IPT has partnered with Keshet to offer First Friends, a welcoming, play-based program for families of infants and toddlers with disabilities or complex medical needs.

“JCFS and Keshet are eager to find ways to support the greater community, and this seemed like a natural and logical connection between the two organizations,” said Jennie Marble, Director of Integrated Pediatric Therapies. 

Keshet launched First Friends last year and recently teamed up with JCFS to enhance the program and host it at the Elaine Kersten Children’s Center in Northbrook. In just a short time, families are already finding comfort and engaging in meaningful experiences including play-based learning, music therapy, speech and language development and more.

“By joining forces, we will be able to strengthen our impact, expand our expertise, and provide even more comprehensive support and programming for our community,” said Bat-El Lieberman, Keshet's Jewish Life Coordinator.