^{By Andrea Jacobs, Coordinator of Adoption & Family Building Support}

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, and this year’s theme, “Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds,” highlights the vital role of connection throughout the adoption journey. Whether you’re considering adoption, in the process, or parenting a child who has joined your family, a supportive community makes all the difference.

At JCFS Chicago, we believe fostering these connections is essential for nurturing families and ensuring lasting bonds. Here are meaningful ways we help build and strengthen your family:

Supporting Decision-Making

Your priorities drive our initial discussions! We offer fully subsidized private consultations to help you navigate options, ensuring you have realistic expectations and the right resources at your fingertips. Our education and referrals are tailored to your needs, and we’re here to explore questions about identity, including race, Jewish practice and life cycle rituals. If you have questions or find your path shifting, we’re here to help you re-route.

Navigating Your Adoption Process

We’re on this journey with you! Whatever pathway you’ve chosen, we’re here to walk alongside you. At JCFS, we provide emotional support tailored to your needs—whether individually, in group settings, or through connections with others experiencing similar journeys in the Chicagoland area.

Many find that these shared experiences often blossom into lifelong friendships. At a recent group a participant shared: “I met other adoptive families years ago while waiting for our children, and to this day, our bonds are strong.” JCFS connects and provides a social component essential to all parents and parents-to-be.

Welcome Home & Mazel Tov!

Mazel Tov—your journey has just begun! In adoption, families often receive a call with little notice about a child waiting for them. While your home may feel familiar, how does your child—who may not be a newborn—perceive and adjust to this new environment, people and routine?

At JCFS, we help you navigate this adoption transition through a Jewish lens. We offer support spaces, continued consultations and valuable resources to assist you as you welcome your child home. Whether you need guidance with parenting, connections to other families or referrals to clergy, we’re here for you. We’re thrilled to welcome your child into the JCFS community!

The Lifelong Journey

Let’s talk about our amazing JCFS children and families—all ages, from newborns to adult adoptees and adoptive parents. Adoption brings unique joys and challenges. Like parenthood, each stage of your child’s development requires different strategies and support. As children grow, they examine their identities, and for adopted individuals, this exploration can include additional layers, particularly regarding race, ethnicity, families of origin and Judaism. We recognize these complexities and incorporate them into our ongoing support.

We’re committed to integrating you into a community that embraces your child and supports your family's evolving journey through:

• Parent support groups of all ages and stages
• Educational programming and workshops informed by your needs
• Referrals to community resources
• Building lasting relationships

Please reach out to Andrea Jacobs with any questions. We welcome you into this community at any stage of your journey.