Support Groups

JCFS Chicago offers support groups on a variety of topics to enable a range of participants to embrace the comfort of human connection.

Evenings of Support

Community-wide gatherings provide wisdom and support through a Jewish lens. Smaller group gatherings offer the opportunity for adults of all ages and life stages to discuss ongoing challenges and learn coping and self-care strategies.

Community Education

Learn new ways to help a friend, parent, child or loved one by bringing a JCFS Mental Health Education program to your synagogue, organization or school.

• Recognize the signs of a mental health challenge or crisis.
• Learn how to actively and compassionately listen to someone in distress.
• Understand mental health in the Jewish community and how we can support and respond to those who need our help.
• Synagogues throughout our community are invited to celebrate Mental Health Shabbat.  Please view our Mental Health Shabbat Resource Guide for links to articles, information, prayers and readings to share with your community on Mental Health Shabbat and throughout the year.

Understanding Mental Health

This workshop provides participants with tools for assisting people who may be struggling with mental health conditions. Participants will learn how to identify the signs and symptoms of mental illness and addiction and connect people with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care. This program is specifically designed for people who are not mental health professionals, such as individual community members, Jewish community leaders, clergy and other synagogue staff, and educators. Scheduling this program allows flexibility, since it can be customized. The content and duration of Understanding Mental Health can be designed to meet the needs of your community or organization.

Training For Professionals in Jewish Organizations

Our presenters offer expertise and practical approaches for preventing a mental health crisis or intervening when a crisis cannot be averted.

Topics include:

• Adolescent mental health
• Crisis Intervention
• Grief, anxiety, and stress
• Self-care and coping strategies for professionals
• Suicide Prevention

Program Recordings

This Anxiety and School program explored how to support your child's (and your own!) anxiety at the start of  the school year. Tips and strategies for managing feelings related to impacts of the pandemic, increasing violence in our world and more were discussed
 
Presenter - Edward Loew, LCPC, has been practicing for over 40 years. He is currently the Director of Community Counseling Services at the Knapp Children’s Center in Rogers Park.

For More Information

Ann Luban, Senior Director, Jewish Community Services, 847.745.5420.

Safer Shabbat Resource Guide

The links below provide prayers, education, resources and support to increase awareness, expand understanding and ensure a culturally sensitive, coordinated response to abuse in Jewish homes and families. These resources can be used by Rabbis or program planners to customize as they consider their service and their programs throughout Shabbat.  If you would like to include a speaker as a part of the Shabbat experience, please contact Elizabeth Ury.

Materials for incorporating into the Shabbat Service, Kiddush and Sermon

• Prayers and Healing Music
• Discussion questions which can be used for the Kiddush and Shabbat tables
• Building upon Jewish values
• Amnon and Tamar-A Disappearing Victim

Child Abuse Prevention, Awareness and Support Materials
Child abuse is harm or mistreatment of a child under 18 by any adult who is in the caregiving role for that child.​

• Keeping Children Safe
• Documentary “ATHLETE A” and self-facilitated discussion questions to be used either for groups or classes within the synagogue or for families outside of the synagogue.
  • ATHLETE A (found on Netflix) helps us better understand grooming and predatory behavior. This documentary highlights how a sexual predator, like Larry Nassar, was able to gain trust and an emotional connection with children and young women to manipulate and exploit them, without parents and employees raising concerns about his relationship with the gymnasts. Athlete A, on a national level, is an example of the importance of awareness within our own synagogues, schools, and communities.
  • ATHLETE A  Discussion Guide

Elder Abuse Prevention and Awareness Materials
Elder abuse is a term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.

• Elder Self-Neglect handout
• Types of Elder Abuse examples
• Text study on Mistreatment of Elders

Teen Violence Prevention, Awareness and Support Materials
Teen violence refers to harmful behaviors, whether physical or emotional, which affect young people. The young person can be an offender, a victim or a witness.

• Teen dating violence information and resources
• Programs offered to continue the conversation:
  • Clothesline Project- A visual, interactive presentation honoring survivors and remembering those who have died as a result of domestic and sexual violence.
  • In Their Shoes^® - A classroom program designed for experiential learning about teen dating violence. Participants become one of six characters based on the experiences of real teens including sexting, pregnancy, homophobia, and stalking. They make choices about their relationship and move through the scenario by reading about interactions with their dating partner, family, friends, counselors, police, and others. JCFS is a certified facilitator.

Domestic Violence Prevention, Awareness and Support Materials  
Domestic abuse is a systematic pattern of power and control for the sole purpose of manipulating a partner in an intimate relationship. It can take many forms: physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, spiritual, financial and sexual.

• A Yom Kippur meditation for Domestic Violence survivors
• Display a SHALVA lawn sign in front of your building for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. SHALVA staff and volunteers are available to deliver these lawn signs to your location. Please email Anita Pildes at apildes@shalvacares.org, and we will deliver to your address.
• Healthy relationship guidelines handout
• Finding the right words handout
• Guidelines for intervention handout
• If someone...suggestive responses handout
• What kind of relationship is it?