Jewish Community Abuse Resources, Education and Solutions
JCARES offers education and resources to increase awareness, expand understanding and ensure a culturally sensitive, coordinated response to abuse in Jewish homes and families. A catalyst for social justice and institutional change, JCARES is committed to inspiring collaborative action focused on abuse across the lifespan -- from keeping children safe to the well-being of elders.
Programs and initiatives include:
- JCARES Coalition
- Professional Training Institute
- Partnership for Safer Communities
- Project Shield
JCARES Coalition
The 40+ member coalition includes representation from Jewish and secular social service, mental health, domestic violence/sexual assault/child abuse agencies; synagogues; funders; governmental and municipality entities; advocates, community leaders and stakeholders. The JCARES coalition is a catalyst for new and strengthened partnerships and collaborative action.
JCARES Coalition Members include Individual advocates, therapists and survivors and the following organizations:
Addiction & Misuse Services, a program of JCFS Chicago
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
Illness, Loss and Spiritual Support, a program of JCFS Chicago
Jewish Coalition Against Sex Trafficking
JCFS Services for People with Disabilities
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
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, in collaboration with other JCFS Chicago Community Services programs, 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.
Partnership for Safer Communities
The JCARES Partnership for Safer Communities initiative is an innovative program that aims to promote health and safety in Jewish day schools, synagogues, camps and other settings through education, policy review and community-building efforts. Safer Communities programs engage lay and professional staff – rabbis and clergy; synagogue, school and camp administrators; educators; parents and students – in learning and dialogue about the impact of abuse across the lifespan, improving access to support for those experiencing abusive situations, and coordinated community strategies that perpetuate healthy, peaceful homes, families and relationships. Safer Communities supports institutions in their efforts to ensure sustainable safe environments into the future.
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
JCARES is supported by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, the Leo S. Guthman Fund and other generous donors.
JCARES Staff
Betsy Lazerow, Coordinator, JCARES and Community Services Education & Learning Initiatives, call 847.745.5430
Dawn Levin, Safer Communities Coordinator, call 847.745.5450
Naomi Shicly, Community Educator, call 847.745.5454
| Date | Event | Location | Contact |
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Professional & Community Training
8:30-10am |
Professional & Community Training
Throughout history, spirituality and healing were vitally linked - from shamans to religious institutions that housed and supported the early hospitals. With the emphasis on scientific medicine in the 20th century, clinical practice moved away from spirituality and healing to treatment and cure. Recently, spurred by the needs and wishes of clients/patients themselves, medicine has begun to recognize what has been lost. At this program, the presenters will share current research, skills and spiritual sources with universal applications regarding the relati |
Professional & Community Training
Artis Senior Living Lakeview |
Professional & Community Training
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Professional & Community Training
10am-12pm |
Professional & Community Training
This two hour seminar will cover the steps from conceptualization to the therapeutic process of Reunification Counseling. There will be a Guardian Ad Litem to talk about how cases are identified for this type of therapy and how the court system works. The second part of the seminar, presented by Tami Sollo LCSW, Coordinator of the Divorce Specialty Center, will focus on how Critical Thinking plays an important role in conceptualizing a case. |
Professional & Community Training
Elaine Kersten Children's Center |
Professional & Community Training
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