Jewish Community Abuse Resources, Education and Solutions
JCFS Chicago offers education and resources to increase awareness, expand understanding and ensure a culturally sensitive, coordinated response to abuse in Jewish homes and families.
Partnership for Safer Communities promotes interpersonal safety, health and well-being in Jewish day schools, synagogues, camps and other institutions through education, policy review and community building efforts.
- Safer Synagogues offers congregational teams – made up of clergy, professional and lay leadership – education and dialogue focused on issues that adversely impact women, men, children and families – intimate partner violence, child abuse, teen dating violence, substance misuse and elder abuse.
- Safer Schools is a comprehensive child sexual abuse prevention program comprised of four components:
- Administrators are supported as they review, develop and implement policies and protocols that promote and provide for the safety of their students.
- Staff and teachers are engaged in educational training about understanding boundaries and abuse, handling accusations or disclosures of abuse, and corresponding legal responsibilities.
- Parents are offered an opportunity to learn about child safety and how to be proactive in safeguarding their children.
- Students are educated about personal safety and how to keep themselves safe.
- Safer Camps supports Jewish day and overnight camp administration and counselors by heightening their understanding of boundaries, abuse, and mandated reporting. Training sessions include discussions about establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries, the signs and symptoms of child abuse and molestation, responding to disclosures or suspicions of unhealthy behaviors, and mandated reporting responsibilities.
- Youth Group leaders and others are engaged in discussions about health boundaries, mandated reporting, responding to abuse disclosures, and other topics.
Professional Network
The JCFS Chicago Professional Network offers opportunities for abuse and addiction professionals, advocates and allies to engage in discussion, explore best practices, build collaboration and examine strategies that inspire optimal services and supports to the Jewish community and beyond.
Network participants include the following organizations:
Chicago Children's Advocacy Center
Children's Advocacy Center of North & Northwest Cook County
Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Violence Division
Cook County State's Attorney Office
HIAS Immigration & Citizenship, a program of JCFS Chicago
Illinois Accountability Initiative
Jewish Coalition Against Sex Trafficking
Jewish Community Centers of Chicago
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
National Council of Jewish Women
Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault
Resilience (Rape Victim Advocates)
Response for Teens, a program of JCFS Chicago
Professional Training Institute
The Professional Training Institute (PTI) offers a diversity of opportunities for learning, networking and dialoguing. Since its inception in 2006, the PTI has featured sessions focused on giving participants the knowledge, tools and strategies to become more effective and sensitive responders to domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Today, the PTI also provides education to address issues such as substance abuse, infertility, and grief. JCFS Chicago offers Continuing Education Credits (CEU’s) for Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals (through a partnership with Between Friends), and Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors.
View our Professional Training calendar listings below for upcoming training and presentations or on our calendar of events.
Project Shield
Project Shield works in partnership with the community to build safe, healthy Jewish relationships and families by heightening awareness and providing education about child sexual abuse.
Support & Funding
The Leo S. Guthman Fund and other generous donors
For more information:
Samantha Spolter, Safer Communities Coordinator, 847.745.5430
Tracey Kite, Professional Training Coordinator, 847.745.5411
JCARES is supported by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, the Leo S. Guthman Fund and other generous donors.
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