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For many students at TDS, development in emotional growth is the key to long-term school success. "I really enjoy using this curriculum because it offers our students the vital tools they need to be successful," says Julie Noparstak, TDS clinician, who leads a weekly Social Work Group in an elementary classroom. "I've seen students much more connected to one another with an increase in respect and listening to one another." 

Confusion about marijuana is no surprise.  The medical use of cannabis is legal (with a doctor's recommendation) in 31 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico.  Eight states have legalized recreational marijuana use in the United States.  With the advent of legalization, attitudes about marijuana have changed dramatically in the U.S.

Dominic, a 9th grader and former TDS student made a special visit to speak to a group of students hoping to follow in his footsteps of returning to a public school. Dominic with Reintegration Specialist Stephen Jones and TDS clinician Alex Joseph.

Ms. Seals has been a JCFS Chicago foster parent for about 5 years. She frequently attends foster parent trainings and is a member of the JCFS Foster Parent Advisory Board.  She initially started fostering to care for her grandchildren.  She supported their safe and successful return home, but wasn’t sure she would keep fostering.  She spoke with JCFS staff, thought and prayed about what to do.  She decided to continue fostering.  “I have all this learning. I like kids and I am all by myself,” she said. 

Caitlin and Christopher have been licensed JCFS Chicago foster parents for about a year.  They welcomed their foster son (now age 10 months) into their home 7 months ago.  They want to give a “shout out” to their case manager, Jenna, of whom they are big fans!  They also really appreciate the other JCFS Chicago foster parents they have met who have been “wonderful, dedicated, and gracious.”

Here is more from Caitlin and Christopher.

Model of Concept car made by students in Stephanie's middle school classroom 

With speech and language disorders ranking among the most common disabilities in children, parents and caregivers are encouraged to learn the signs—and seek an evaluation—if they have concerns about their child’s ability to communicate. JCFS Chicago’s speech-language pathologists can offer timely guidance for families because May is recognized nationally as Better Hearing & Speech Month.

A warm cup of freshly brewed coffee, sold at an affordable price, served with a smile.  Welcome to School Grounds, the JCFS TDS coffee cart. 

We are very saddened to share the news of the death of former director of the Virginia Frank Child Development Center, Judith Bertacchi. Judy passed away on Friday, April 12.

Addiction and addiction recovery are realities in our community; they always have been and likely will be into the near future.  Until recently many people in the Jewish community denied that addiction was a Jewish issue.  Now there is a much greater recognition of how addiction challenges our own.  However, many Jewish families still express deep feelings of isolation when confronting addiction in themselves or their loved ones.

There are so many ways, large and small, that each of us can support Jewish families struggling with active addiction or in recovery, to bring them out of isolation and into the loving support our community offers.  Here are some ideas: