Ways to Help

Meet JCFS Chicago’s New Board Chair

Jennifer Lucas's first-hand experience observing a close family member struggle with mental health challenges fueled her passion to support and advance the mission of JCFS Chicago to help community members in need. After almost six years on the JCFS Chicago Board of Directors, Jennifer began her tenure as Board Chair on September 14.

Read more

Donor Profile

Current co-chairs of JCFS Chicago’s Associates Board, Becca Friedman and Sarah Dorfman are setting an example for young philanthropists in Chicago.

Read more

Donor Profile

David’s Schwartz  late wife, Elaine, was on the board of JVS Career & Employment and on the Response for Teens Advisory Council. Through Elaine’s leadership, David became passionate about these crucial services for our community and honors her legacy through two special funds each year.

Read more

We Have Their Backs

Dear Community Members, my bat mitzvah is in May and as a mitzvah, or service, project I’ve chosen to partner with Jewish Child & Family Services (JCFS) to help supply all kinds of kids in need with backpacks and school supplies.

Read more

Gender Stereotypes – What’s A Parent to Do?

By Tracey Lipsig Kite, LCSW, Educator and Trainer, JCFS Chicago

“Do girls abandon our bodies because that’s where we’re shamed and boys abandon their emotions because that’s where they’re shamed? Little boys: Don’t feel. Little girls: Don’t hunger.” Glennon Doyle Melton in Love Warrior

Our culture today (often unconsciously) pushes girls and boys into separate boxes, and handicaps them emotionally. Despite our efforts to the contrary, we continue to tell girls, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, that being nice, beautiful, smart and successful are expected; expressing anger is not OK. We tell boys that being tough, strong and a leader are important, and the only emotion that is OK for them to express is anger. To further complicate things, most people aren’t aware of having taken in those messages, so we may be passing them on to our kids without meaning to. Two JCFS Chicago parenting sessions of particular interest over the past two years are: Girl Drama and Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys.

Read more

Stand with Refugees: Become a Congregational Co-Sponsor

by Jessica Schaffer, HIAS Immigration & Citizenship Director

Today, over 65 million people are displaced around the world – of those, more than 25 million are refugees. Various conflicts across the globe, including in Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere, have created the greatest humanitarian crisis the world has seen since World War II.  In the face of this crisis, many countries and states and institutions have closed or threatened to close their doors to refugees, unable or unwilling to provide the critical support necessary to help them rebuild their lives.

Read more