JCFS Chicago

JCFS Chicago's 2026 Annual Report is here!

From Family Day creating spaces where children with disabilities and their families feel a true sense of belonging, to Knapp School & Yeshiva students building confidence and independence through real-world transition experiences, this year's Annual Report highlights our values in action.

Read more on our website: https://www.jcfs.org/about/annual-report-financials

JCFS Chicago's Services for People with Disabilities presents a free community workshop: Grief and Loss

Grief and loss impact all of us throughout our lives. Despite our best intentions, it may not always be easy to know how to support someone through their experience of grief and loss. This can be especially true when supporting someone with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

This event is free and open to the public. Continuing education credits are available for QIDPs.

To register, visit our website here: https://www.jcfs.org/events/grief-and-loss

For registration assistance or accommodation requests, contact [email protected].

This week, we celebrate Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week.

At JCFS Chicago, our DSPs play a crucial role in supporting members of our community with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Our DSPs work directly with adults in residential group homes to provide daily support.

Hear from Keith Johnson, a longtime DSP with JCFS Chicago, who shared with us what this role has meant to him.

Thank you, Keith, and all of our DSPs!

Learn more about JCFS's services for people with disabilities and their families on our website: https://www.jcfs.org/find-help/disability-services

A new school year can bring excitement, nerves, and behavioral challenges. Discover practical strategies from our Virginia Frank Child Development Center clinicians to ease the transition.

Read more on our website: https://www.jcfs.org/blog/help-your-child-adjust-new-school-environment

Last week, JCFS Chicago board members, supporters, staff and community partners attended the 2026 JCFS Annual Meeting in West Rogers Park. The program recognized our dedicated employees, celebrated our past year’s accomplishments, recognized several board members, and honored Keshet as our 2026 Community Partner of the Year.

Keshet CEO Jennifer Phillips accepted the award. From a shared commitment to people with disabilities, our partnership has continued to grow. Together, we collaborate, exchange resources, and help families and adults access the services they need.

Before passing the gavel on to Todd Grayson, who began his 2-year term as Board Chair, Simon Fleischmann presented Robert Brimm with the Above and Beyond Award, recognized the board directors who fulfilled their terms, and welcomed four new board members.

JCFS President and CEO Stacey Shor’s invoked the late Dolly Parton, saying “It was Dolly who said, ‘Find out who you are and do it on purpose.' That statement is a perfect encapsulation of our ambitious strategic plan, launched two years ago with a vision of growth into 2030." The plan envisions leaning into the work JCFS does best in partnership with others doing what they do best.

Wishing everyone Shana Tova, a good and sweet New Year!

In observance of Rosh Hashanah, JCFS Chicago offices will close at 3:00pm today.

Nanette Cohen, JCFS Chicago's, Senior Director of Employment, will present alongside Kristin Wagner, Manager of Transition and Community Services at Illinois Department of Human Services, in the free webinar, "Collaborative Strategies to Improve Hiring Outcomes for People with Disabilities."

Wednesday, September 30 at 11:30am-1:30pm CT
Online via Zoom
ASL and closed captioning provided

Register here and learn more: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8QfjWbuITBK8k5xwd5FOfQ #/registration

Megan Lerner, LCSW, Director of JCFS Chicago's Kaufman Wolf Center for Trauma & Resilience (KWCTR), along with Nicole du Mont, LCSW, are presenting at the ChicagoCAC Conference on Child Trauma and Mental Health. Their presenation titled, "Context Based Assessments: Understanding How Diagnosis Improves Treatment of Trauma and Related Disorders​" will explore how context-based, trauma-informed assessment can strengthen diagnosis and support more individualized care.

Learn more about KWCTR here: https://www.jcfs.org/find-help/trauma-resilience

Today is 988 Day, a national awareness initiative highlighting the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline and the importance of mental health support. If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, crisis, or thoughts of su***de, help is available by calling or texting 988.

Learn more about 988 Day: https://988lifeline.org/988-day/

JCFS Chicago offers community support resources, including su***de prevention resources. Learn more on our website: https://www.jcfs.org/find-help/community-support