Jacob connected with the JCFS Chicago Duman Opportunity Center through his school. Jacob loves cars and has been working on them throughout his life with his family and friends. He hopes to become an auto mechanic, but has struggled to achieve the necessary academic requirements to enroll in an auto mechanic program.

May we, our loved ones, our colleagues, our friends, and all we know experience good health at this difficult time.

Throughout history, as humans spread across the world, infectious diseases have been a constant companion.  Even in this modern era, outbreaks are nearly constant. The Jewish community has lived through those times.  We can learn from the past. 

Imagine a situation in which thousands of Jews all over the world are sitting in churches every week.  Many of them are wishing they could be sitting in a synagogue instead, but they can’t. So who are these Jews?  These are Jews in recovery from addiction of every sort. These are all Jews attending 12-Step meetings.  

March celebrates National Professional Social Work Month and is an opportunity to spotlight the incredible work of the 700,000 social workers across the country. Here's what some of our social workers had to say about their jobs.

Early intervention is the term used to describe services and support that help babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. “Starting early intervention can significantly change a child’s developmental path and increase their success in school and life,” says Jennie Marble, Director of Integrated Pediatric Therapies.  

Although it’s a snowy winter Friday afternoon in Chicago, inside Bella Terra, a senior living community in Morton Grove, warm Shabbat melodies envelop Jewish residents. Twice a month they come together to welcome Shabbat with services led by conservative Cantor Fortunee Belilos and volunteer Rabbi Milt Wakschlag. 

Ben Arkes was born in Chicago in 1922. His father, Pinches, was a Ukrainian immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1910 with no resources and limited English proficiency. Ben was one of five children, and though his father was an incredibly hard-working man, the family struggled with poverty, often going without meals. His upbringing had a profound impact on Ben’s altruism later in life.

At JCFS Chicago, helping children, teens, and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) integrate into the community and improve their quality of life is at the core of what we do.

When concerns about substance use or other possible addictions arise: what help is available? Who can I call?