Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS) of Chicago was established in 2006 though a successful merger of two highly regarded non-profit agencies, the Jewish Children’s Bureau (founded in 1893) and Jewish Family and Community Services (founded in 1859). JCFS serves adults, children and families at 14 locations throughout Chicagoland and has an annual operating budget is $31.2 million.

JCFS’s well trained and highly credentialed management staff is valued by peers, colleagues and its Board of Directors. JCFS is an important service provider for city, state and federal funders. JCFS provides a broad array of services including Counseling and Support for adults, children, families and couples; Community Programs and Services; Residential and Child Welfare Services; Education and Childcare Services; and Services for People with Disabilities.

JCFS seeks an experienced senior executive to use the recommendations of the new strategic plan to chart a course of continued growth and achievement while at the same time addressing the remaining challenges from the merger. The Executive Director will serve as the primary public representative for JCFS in the agency’s interactions with government agencies, the Jewish community and the community at large. In addition to ensuring the operational excellence and effectiveness of JCFS and the adherence to the high standard of services it offers, the new Executive Director will work closely with the Board of Directors and play an important role in stewarding relationships with major donors and their families. JCFS is an affiliate agency of and is generously funded by the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

The mission of Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS) is "to provide help, healing, and caring services infused with Jewish values to strengthen lives in our community." Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS) was established in 2006 though a successful merger of two highly regarded non-profit agencies, each with a long and distinguished record of service to children and families of all backgrounds in the Chicago area – the Jewish Children’s Bureau (founded in 1893) and Jewish Family and Community Services (founded in 1859).

JCFS is an affiliate agency of and is generously funded by the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, the largest not-for-profit institution in Illinois and the central address for Chicago’s Jewish Community. The agency’s well trained and highly credentialed management staff is valued by peers, colleagues and its Board of Directors. JCFS is an important service provider for DCFS as well as other state and federal funders. Its services are rigorously monitored using CQI and it has a national reputation as a professional learning center. JCFS provides a broad array of services including Counseling and Support for adults, children, families and couples; Community Programs and Services; Residential and Child Welfare Services; Education and Childcare Services; and Services for People with Disabilities.

JCFS serves adults, children and families at 14 locations throughout Chicagoland and has an annual operating budget is $31.2 million. More than 19,000 people benefit from JCFS services each year. Of the 3,942 clients served directly, approximately half are Jewish, 39% are children and 17% are age 56 and older. Approximately 43% reside in the City of Chicago and the remainder, in a large number of communities in Cook and other surrounding Illinois counties. JCFS programs include:

The ongoing development of JCFS as an integrated entity. Staff retention remains as high as it was before the merger.

Client satisfaction and client outcome studies have shown the same or better results compared to before the merger (client satisfaction exceeds 90%+). The merger makes more resources available to all clients, albeit straining those resources as the demand for services increases.

A new comprehensive strategic plan has been completed and the operational planning with staff has begun. The process of working on the plan has brought the board and staff closer together both within and between the two groups.

All clinical staff has now completed their training on the CSM, our client information system, and are using it. This use has immediately highlighted and led to the resolution of gaps between our record keeping procedures and the COA, and field and best practices standards.

The first-ever audit of our Autism Academy resulted in the Illinois State Board of Education identifying our program as "the best in the State of Illinois". Likewise, DCFS has identified MAC (Maintaining Adoption Connections), as one of the top programs in the state. (MAC was newly launched this year.)

After working with legislators and senior budget and DCFS officials, the JCFS group homes received a $400,000 rate increase.

JCERT teams continue to provide support for persons and organizations experiencing severe trauma. Significantly, our teams were part of the efforts to support students, faculty, and community members at both the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois campuses. Our work at both universities continues.