JCFS Community Services is committed to offering cross-discipline professionals with a diversity of opportunities for learning, networking and dialoguing at the JCARES Professional Training Institute (PTI).

Since its inception in 2006, the PTI has provided a range of sessions to: Mental health, social service, health care and addiction treatment professionals; rabbis and synagogue leadership; law enforcement and legal advocates; and administrators and educators. The wide range of offerings focuses on giving participants the knowledge, tools and strategies to become more effective and sensitive responders to domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault.

In collaboration with other JCFS Community Services programs, the PTI has also provided education that addressed the issues of substance abuse (with the Jewish Center for Addiction ), adoption ( Project Esther: The Jewish Adoption Network ) and grief (the Jewish Healing Network ).

Sessions are offered in geographic locations that span the suburbs and the city of Chicago. Presenters are experts in their field and carefully selected because of their knowledge and ability to convey the most enriching and useful information. Participants can earn credits to fill their licensing or credentialing requirements. JCFS offers Continuing Education Credits for social workers, counselors, psychologists, Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals (through a partnership with Between Friends), and certified alcohol and other drug abuse counselors.

JCFS is proud of the success of the JCARES PTI which has welcomed over 400 professionals and lay leader attendees each year. As the demand for quality, convenient and affordable education continues to increase, JCARES and JCFS Community Services are committed to providing an expanded catalog of offerings that focus on a variety of issues that touch Jewish individuals, homes and families across the lifespan.

Upcoming Training Sessions

Tuesday, July 12

Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Presented by Becky Carter from Core Psychotherapy Center

9 -11:30 a.m.

Elaine Kersten Children’s Center

255 Revere Drive, Northbrook

Fee: $15

Wednesday, August 3

Domestic Violence in the Immigrant Community: Legal Remedies and Clinical Considerations

Presented by Susan Schreiber from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and Ruchi Ray from Apna Ghar, in collaboration with HIAS Chicago

9 a.m. – 12:30 pm

Abe and Ida Cooper Center

6639 North Kedzie Ave., Chicago

Fee: $15

Wednesday, September 14

Addressing the Opioid Epidemic: A Community Coalition Model

Panel

Presentation by Chelsea A. Laliberte Lake County Opioid Initiative, Mundelein Police Chief Eric Guenther, Susan McKnight from the Lake County Health Department, and Lake County State’s Attorney Michael G. Nerheim, in collaboration with the Jewish Center for Addiction

9 a.m. – noon

North Shore Congregation Israel

1185 Sheridan Rd., Glencoe

Fee: $15

Registration to be available soon

CEU’s available. Register for the July 12th and August 3rd training sessions.

To be added to the email list and receive Professional Training Institute announcements or more information, contact Betsy Lazerow, JCARES & Community Services Professional Education Coordinator at [email protected] or (847) 745-5430.