Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Keshet’s First Friends is a welcoming, play-based program for families of infants and toddlers with disabilities or complex medical needs. Connect with other parents, nurture your baby’s growth through play, and feel supported every step of the way. This event is a partnership between Keshet and JCFS Chicago.
Grab your galentine (or palentine!) and warm up those vocal cords for Cupid’s Karaoke Night at Whiskey Girl Tavern! Belt out your favorites while supporting Response for Teens with raffles, a bake sale, and lots of chances to win, connect, and give back. All funds will go toward the work of Response for Teens, advancing sexual health education and mental health supports in the Chicagoland area.
Come fall in love with giving back. No vocal talent required—just big hearts and good vibes!
This event is for adults 21+
This 90-minute virtual program is a supportive space for men to discuss topics related to divorce and build connections with other men who are navigating any stage of this process. This event is free and open to the public.
A Zoom link will be sent out prior to the event. If you have concerns about sharing your name during the session, please contact Daniel Bahner to discuss the best way for you to join.
Join JCFS Chicago Clinical Psychology intern Rachel Weisbecker and Occupational Therapist Ari Buslovich for a discussion about grandparenting a child who is neurodivergent or has a developmental delay or disability. Learn about the different types of professionals who may be supporting your family; receive tips and strategies that can be useful when giving care, and gain meaningful connections and helpful resources to support your grandparent journey.
This event is free and open to the public. Continuing education credits are available for QIDP's.
*Session may be recorded
You will receive a Zoom link to participate via email the day prior to the session.
For help with registration, and for any accommodations, please contact
Kathryn Dougherty
The sibling relationship is often the longest relationship anyone will have in their lifetime, but how well do we really understand it?
Join our presenters Tammy Besser, LCSW Clinical Supervisor, Services for People with Disabilities and Megan Kowalski, Certified Sibshop Facilitator at JCFS Chicago as they address common concerns in “typical” sibling relationships, and those involving a sibling with a disability. They will share unique opportunities and strategies for developing positive sibling relationships, along with a review of the Sibshop model of support and sample activities.
This event is free and open to the public. Continuing education credits are available for QIDP's. *Session may be recorded
You will receive a Zoom link to participate via email the day prior to the session.
For help with registration, and for any accommodations, please contact Kathryn Dougherty.
Clinicians supporting individuals and families touched by adoption need a clear, grounded framework to understand the lifelong themes that shape adoptee experiences. This training brings together experts Darci Nelsen, PhD, LMHC, and Lisa LC Coppola, LMHC, LCPC, M.Ed, to develop an understanding of what it means to have an adoption-competent and trauma-informed clinical lens. Participants will explore the core themes of adoption - including grief, loss, and identity - that commonly arise for adoptees, and examine how these issues evolve across the lifespan within unique relational, developmental, and cultural contexts.
Through a trauma and attachment informed lens, this training also highlights the complex relationship between early adversity, emotional regulation, relational patterns, and vulnerability to addiction within the adoption community. Clinicians will leave with a clearer understanding of how these core issues intersect with trauma and attachment, and with practical, compassionate strategies to effectively support adoptees, caregivers, and families across all stages of life.
Objectives:
1. Develop an understanding of what it means to have an adoption competent lens
2. Learn the impact of the core themes, losses and struggles of adoptees throughout the lifespan.
3. Understand the relationship between trauma, attachment and addiction in the adoption community
4. Learn adoption-sensitive clinical strategies and interventions that support adoptees and their families.
$40 to register. JCFS employees may register through UKG Pro Learning
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Join us for our signature fundraising event to help strengthen self-sufficiency, belonging, and well-being among people in our community.
HONORING
Howard J. Swibel
Irving B. Harris Leadership Award
Marci Friedman
What’s Possible Award
For more information, visit JCFS.org/Elevate
Sponsorship opportunities available.
Family estrangement is more common than many people realize. It can bring up a mix of feelings like shame, anger, grief, or loneliness.
This evening of support offers a chance to connect with others who are facing similar challenges, helping to reduce isolation and normalize the experience. Through conversation and shared learning, participants will explore gentle ways to strengthen emotional resilience, set healthy boundaries, and navigate complicated family relationships.
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