For over a year, Jennie Marble, Director of JCFS Integrated Pediatric Therapies (IPT), has been cultivating a relationship with program staff from Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services (JFS) in Boca Raton, Florida. Having the need to set-up a pediatric therapy clinic within their own agency, JFS Florida embarked on a months-long research process and found that JCFS Chicago offered one of the only pediatric developmental therapies models within a Jewish social service agency in the nation. With our IPT program (speech-language, occupational, and physical therapy) embedded in the agency, we can also connect children and families with other services that support the whole family, such as counseling, respite, adult independent living, community supports, and employment guidance, which sets us apart from other agencies.  

Since it was not feasible to meet in-person last year, Jennie used Zoom to provide consult and virtual tours of our clinic to JFS staff. Advice and conversation were had on everything from the type of chairs we use and how to design a Snoezelen room (specialized sensory experience space) to funding sources and insurance contracts. 

Aliyah Longhurst, Director of Toby and Leon Cooperman Therapy and Family Resource Center and Beth Levine, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of JFS were so impressed by what they saw that they wanted to see the IPT clinic firsthand. So, Aliyah and Beth came to Chicago in March 2022. They toured the clinic at the Abe and Ida Cooper Center and met with the JCFS executive team and program directors and staff who gave an overview of the agency’s structure, operations, and how our counselors, therapists, educators, employment specialists and others collaborate across our family of services to meet the needs of our clients. “This was an excellent opportunity to highlight the good work we do, and to foster shared learning and knowledge between sister agencies to support people of all ages and abilities,” said Jennie. 

JFS Florida is planning to officially open their pediatric therapy clinic in summer 2022. “We look forward to the potential for cross-consultation once JFS’ clinic is up and running,” added Jennie. “Partnership and collaboration can go a long way in helping children with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families build a quality life and become integral members of their communities.”