Talk to Someone 847.676.0078

Our counselors and staff are here to help.
To talk to someone at Response for Teens, call 847.676.0078.

Hours

Monday 10AM–9PM
Tuesday 10AM–6PM
Wednesday 10AM–6PM
Thursday 9AM–5PM
Friday 9AM–3PM
Saturday CLOSED
Sunday CLOSED

Response for Teens
5140 Golf Road
Skokie, IL 60077

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
If you need emergency help with housing or drug problems, call 311.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800.273.8255

To report the abuse or neglect of a child, please call the Illinois Child Abuse Hotline at 800.25.ABUSE. If you are out-of-state, please call 217.524.2606.

If you are a youth seeking immediate non-emergency support, please contact the DCFS Youth Hotline at 800.232.3798.

Client’ rights are guaranteed to them in accordance with Ch. 2 of the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (IMHDD) Act [405 ILCS 5} and Rule 132.

All JCFS Chicago programs and personnel shall recognize and respect the rights of our clients.

Your rights include, but are not limited to:

• The right to treatment and to receive services in accordance with an assessment of your needs.
• The right to have program rules and expectations enforced consistently.
• The right to be treated with respect and dignity and to receive services that are free from harassment and coercion.
• The right to receive services in a non-discriminatory manner and the right to receive services that are respectful of and responsive to cultural and linguistic differences.
• The right to receive mental health services in the most appropriate and least restrictive or intrusive setting/service.
• The right to a current individualized treatment plan.
• The right to informed participation in establishing your treatment plan and to participate in service decisions.
• The right to periodic information concerning your condition and progress.
• The right to refuse any service or treatment (including medication) unless mandated by the law or court order and be informed about the consequences of refusal, which can include discharge.
• The right to be informed of any treatment or therapy, including physical and medical consequences and the right to refuse a component of treatment or therapy program, with the right to be informed of all alternatives.
• The right to have the opportunity to consult with independent specialists and counselors and to seek an outside psychiatric or psychological evaluation.
• The right to freedom from the use of language of an intimidating, degrading, or derogatory nature.
• The right to be free from abuse, neglect, harm and exploitation.
• The right to have disabilities accommodated as required by the American with Disabilities Act, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5).
• The right to have assistance from an independent advocate when, in your opinion, your rights have been violated. You have the right to contact the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, Equip for Equality, Inc., and IDCFS or DMHDD as appropriate. Client will be offered staff assistance in contacting these organizations at the address and telephone number provided:

Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission
160 N. LaSalle St., Suite S500
Chicago, IL 60601
800.232.3798 or 312.793.5900

Equip for Equality, Inc.
20 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60602
312.341.0022
800.610.2779 (TTY)

DCFS Service Appeal
Bureau of Quality Assurance
State of Illinois Center
100 West Randolph, Suite 6-200
Chicago, IL 60601
312.814.6800

DHS Appeals
Bureau of Hearings
69 West Washington, 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
800.435.0774
877.734.7429 (TTY)

• The right to confidentiality regarding health/mental health information and any correspondence sent from the agency in accordance with the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.
• Justification for restriction of a client’s rights under the statues listed above will be documented in the client’s record. Documentation shall include a plan with measurable objectives for restoring the client’s rights that is signed by the client or the client’s parent or guardian, the QMHP and the LPHA. In addition, the client affected by such restrictions, their parent or guardian, as appropriate, and any agency designated by the client (with appropriate consent) including the above advocates if the client so chooses, shall be notified of the restriction and given a copy of the plan to remove the restriction of rights.
• The right or the guardian’s right to present grievances up to and including the provider’s executive director or comparable position. The client or guardian will be informed on how their grievances will be handled at the provider level. A record of such grievances and the response to those grievances shall be maintained by the provider. The executive director’s decision on the grievance shall constitute a final administrative decision (except when such decisions are reviewable by the provider’s governing board, in which case the governing board’s decision is the final authority at the provider level).
• If services are funded through a public funder payer (DCFS, DHS, etc), you have the right to contact the public payer or its designee and to be informed of the public payer’s process for reviewing grievances.
• The right to contact HFS or its designee and to be informed by HFS or its designee of the client’s healthcare benefit and the process for reviewing grievances.
• The right to receive service at times mutually convenient to you and the agency during customary business hours. The agency provides for daytime hours of availability Monday through Friday, and is open by appointment during evening hours.
• The right to receive services provided your behavior does not disrupt, threaten, or harm other clients or staff, and that your fee agreement with the agency is maintained.  Non-compliance could result in discharge from services.
• The right not to be denied, suspended or terminated from services or have services reduced for exercising any rights.

Information Collection Privacy Policy
JCFS Chicago does not collect personal information from visitors to our site.

Like all web servers, our server automatically creates log files for everyone who visits our site. These access logs allow us to make our site more useful to our visitors. The access logs do NOT record visitors' name, address, phone number, credit card numbers, or any other personally-identifying information. They do contain information such as:

• The Internet Protocol Address (IP Address) of the machine which accessed our website
• The date of the visit
• The time of the visit
• The path taken through our website
• The browser being used
• A list of files downloaded or viewed
• Any errors encountered

For any questions about the Website Information Collection Privacy Policy, please contact our Director of Marketing at 773.467.3884.

At Response for Teens , we are experts on adolescent development and are diligent about staying up to date on trends and issues impacting youth and their families. Our staff can deliver a powerful message to any group, large or small.

Speak with one of our staff members about sharing their particular expertise with your school, camp, synagogue, or teen-focused organization! Contact staff directly via email, give us a call, or contact us online.

Staff Speakers

To bring a Response for Teens speaker to your group or program, contact David Lipschutz.

As parents, we work to provide safety and education for our children from the moment they’re born. This work continues throughout the adolescent years—but it can unfortunately become a minefield of conflict. Cultivating respect and patience for your child’s process and learning how to communicate effectively can help ease the journey. Below are some ways to approach common issues that you and your teen may be struggling to address together.

How do I Talk to my Teen About Sex?

Odds are that your teen is as nervous about the topic as you may be, possibly more so. The more comfortable and knowledgeable you are when you broach the subject, the easier the conversation will be. To make sure your teen sees you as a trustworthy and safe person to talk to, try the following:

• Practice discussing sex with close friends. They can help you learn to address touchy subjects in a more relaxed, confident way.
• Get current. While sex is a basic part of human existence, it’s constantly evolving. Your teenager may be facing situations or issues you never had to deal with. Make sure you are up to date on sexual terms and concepts, as well as current issues that are affecting teens.
• Share ideas and concerns with other parents. Our Raising Awareness Programs (RAPS) allows parents and guardians to host gatherings to talk about timely issues impacting teens and their families, including sex and sexual health. Response for Teens professionals will join you and your guests to share their expertise and create opportunities for discussion and Q&A.

How do I Talk to my Teen About Relationships?

Romantic relationships look very different in the 21st century than they used to. Gone are the days of “going steady” and monogamous relationships. Nowadays, youth use technology to flirt, and many prefer “hooking up” or “hanging out” to serious dating. Social networking sites, apps, and cell phones are an integral part of teens’ romantic lives, from flirting to breaking up. To engage your teen in discussions about healthy relationships in the digital age, here are a few tips:

• Stay plugged in. Develop an understanding of the major role that social and digital media play in teens’ romantic relationships. Try not to be judgmental or talk too much about what dating “in your day” looked like. Listen to the language your teen is using to identify peer and romantic relationships, and ask what that language means to them. Want to get caught up on the latest technology and how it affects teen relationships? Check out our program for parents and professionals, “Safe Surfing: Helping Youth Stay Safe Online.”
• Focus on respect. Love can be a tricky, subjective idea without clear definition. Instead of focusing on what love looks like, help your child think about what respect looks like in a relationship. Ask them to think about how their partner can show them respect and how they can show self-respect. The more your adolescent develops a solid sense of self-respect, the more that translates into learning what respect from others looks like.
• Talk about affirmative consent. Encourage your teen to ask for consent and engage in honest communication and dialogue with friends, family members and partners. Model consent and respect by actively listening to your teen and respecting their boundaries whenever possible.

How do I Talk to my Teen About Gender Identity?

If your teen is exploring sexuality or gender outside of narrowly-defined cultural norms, they may be experiencing judgment—at school, in social situations, or even within the family. Counter that judgment with compassionate, thoughtful words and actions:

• Listen. Be open to whatever your teen has to say. Work to create a space where they feel safe talking about their thoughts and concerns.
• Push your own boundaries. Take time to reflect on your personal comfort zones. Do you experience discomfort around people who live lifestyles different from your own? Locate friends in your circle with whom you can share concerns and process your feelings. Notice how you feel when someone accepts or rejects what you are saying. This will help you cultivate empathy for your teen’s experience.
• Honor their sense of self. If your child requests you use pronouns that are different than what you are accustomed to, work to adopt those pronouns. It can be challenging to change lifelong habits, and harder still to shift your perceptions of your own child, but it is paramount that they feel accepted and seen for who they are (or are becoming).
• Seek out resources. As a parent or family member of a child who identifies as “gender fluid” or is experimenting with gender identity, you may have questions, confusions, or concerns. Response for Teens can provide you, your child, and their allies with information, education, and support.
  • Parent & Family Connection is a support and education group for Jewish parents and family members of LGBTQ youth and young adults. Our program consists of monthly meetings, a peer mentoring program and community events.
  • Alliance is Response for Teens' annual summer program for LGBTQ teens to enjoy time with friends and meet other LGBTQ high schoolers in the area.
  • Our Resources section offers links to other outstanding LGBTQ-focused organizations and sources of information and support.

How can I Support my Child’s Mental Health During Adolescence?

Adolescents may experience challenges to their mental health and safety as they begin to explore the world in an increasingly adult way. Remember that you are the expert when it comes to your child; therefore, you play a critical role in knowing when they may need support. Here are some ways to identify and address issues:

• Know what to look for. Has there been a noticeable change in behavior, either at home, socially, or academically? Are they isolating themselves in their room? Are they not eating and/or sleeping regularly? Are they expressing anxiety or intense worry? All of these are be signs that they may need help.
• Speak to your school counselor. See if they’ve noticed anything unusual or have any concerns.
• Consider counseling. If you determine your child does need help, Response for Teens is committed to providing skillful professional counseling and other support services to teens and their families as they navigate this often-difficult journey.

Our counselors, prevention educators and medical personnel provide an invaluable range of services for tweens, teens, and families in a safe, compassionate environment.

Prevention & Education

Our Prevention team travels far and wide to middle schools, high schools, camps, synagogues and community centers. They provide interactive, experiential programming on a wide range of topics relevant to youth and those working with them, including:

• Leadership development training

• Substance abuse prevention

• Comprehensive sex education

• Violence prevention

• Healthy relationships

• Dating violence prevention

• Self-esteem and body image issues

• Team building

• Cyberbullying and bullying prevention

• Social media education and awareness

• Diversity training

• LGBTQ awareness

Our programs are tailored to meet the needs of the organization or school requesting service. And as trends shift and new topics and issues emerge, our staff engages in the creation of appropriate, responsive programming.

Counseling

Master’s-level therapists with expertise in adolescent development issues provide individual, family and group counseling around a range of adolescent and family concerns, including (but not limited to):

• Anxiety and depression

• Parent-teen communication

• Academic concerns

• Relationship issues

• Divorce

We accept insurance (commercial and Medicaid) for counseling services as well as providing a self-pay fee scale. To learn more about our counseling services, send an email to ResponseCounseling@jcfs.org.

Leadership Development

Response for Teens offers programs and special events to help develop the skills and confidence needed to be a great peer leader.

To speak to someone about our Leadership Development programs, contact Alyssa Robbins.

• Youth For Change: Response’s Teen Advisory Board

• Summer Programs

Our Advisory Council

Response for Teens is grateful for the support and leadership of our Response Advisory Council (RAC), approximately 20–25 community volunteers who are passionate about our work with adolescent populations.

RAC members assume leadership responsibilities and provide guidance on key policy, program, and financial matters for Response for Teens. As advisors and ambassadors, council members spend time getting to know and understand Response for Teens' important work in their respective communities so that they can better share information with friends, neighbors, community leaders, school faculty and personnel, synagogue and church groups, funders, and other stakeholders.

Another key responsibility of the RAC is fundraising critical dollars to support Response for Teens' vital programs and services.

RAC Members 2024–2025

Executive Committee:

Lori Shapiro – Chairperson

RAC Members:

Sarah Casper-Davis
Gail Dallas
Nanci Dobkin
Terri Freeman
Melinda Grossman
Alexa Kelman
Jennifer Koplow, JUF Women’s Philanthropy Board
Lauren Kugelman
Sheri Levin
Molly Levitt
Stacey Orleans
Lydia Rifkind
Barry Rubin
Pamela Ruos
Jonathan Rutman
Bruce Scher
Marnie Spiegel
Julie Weinberg

Honorary RAC Members:

Dr. Karen Bernstein
Rabbi Wendi Geffen