In July of 2024, JCFS Chicago, in partnership with the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF), launched a local Resiliency Roundtable. Modeled on the BeWell platform of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the roundtable is comprised of community lay leaders, clinical practitioners, and agency leaders who convene regularly to address critical mental health issues. This roundtable aspires to establish a stigma-free, comprehensive, and integrated Jewish communal support system. This system will meet the needs of Jewish Chicagoland families seeking improved and accessible mental health care—irrespective of age, socio-economic status, or the level of assistance required.

So far, the Resiliency Roundtable at JCFS has brought together professionals from 17+ local and national organizations—including Base Hillel, JCC, Midwest Refuah, Mishkan, No Shame on U, Upward Community, USY and others. These organizations work with clinicians in Jewish settings to understand the issues young people confront and to support each other in these efforts.

Ultimately, this endeavor strengthens the Jewish community’s ability to provide developmentally and culturally appropriate care and build resilience among young people. Through the Roundtable, leaders meet regularly to share best practices, problem-solve, and collaborate. They create resources that draw on Jewish wisdom to promote well-being and healthy environments, addressing issues such as addiction and substance use disorders, controlling behaviors, body image, issues of suicidality, creating physically and psychologically safe spaces, how antisemitism impacts mental health, and coping with failure in high performing communities. By their actions, the professionals in the Roundtable are helping to prove that Jewish engagement and experiences can be a powerful tool for building resilience.

For more information, check out the national Resiliency Roundtable Website.

List of Participating Organizations

No Shame On U
NFTY
Keshet LGBTQ+
Ramah Day Camp
USY
Midwest Refuah
The Ark
JCC Chicago
Temple Beth Emet
JUF
Base Hillel
Mishkan
Upward Community

LGBTQIA+ Resources and Support

LGBTQIA+ 101
Start here for definitions of LGBTQIA+-related terms, answers to common questions, and links to our LGBTQIA+ resources.

Jewish Youth 
Keshet works for the full equality of all LGBTQIA+ Jews and our families in Jewish life.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago: Gender Development Program & Resources
A thorough list of resources for LGBTQIA+ youth in the Chicagoland area, with a focus on resources for transgender individuals.

Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook: Pride Youth Program
Based in Glenview, Illinois, Youth Services program offer support, events, and leadership training for LGBTQIA+ youth in the Chicagoland area.

An Ally's Guide to Terminology: Talking About LGBT People & Equality
The Talking About series was co-authored by GLAAD and the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), in partnership with a board of contributing editors from the Human Rights Campaign, Lake Research Partners, PFLAG's Straight for Equality project, Arizona Together, researcher Margaret Conway, and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN, on the Don't Ask, Don't Tell section).

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Resources and support to unite LGBTQIA+ people with families, friends, and allies.

The Trevor Project
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQIA+ young people ages 13–24.