JCFS
JCFS is a Chicago-based, 165-year-old nonprofit social services organization delivering mental health, disability, employment, immigration, early childhood, grief, and family support services through integrated clinical and community-based programs across the Chicago metropolitan area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1859
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What JCFS does
JCFS (JCFS Chicago - Adult & Child Family Services) is a Chicago-based nonprofit social services organization tracing its service roots to 1859, with JVS Career & Employment roots to 1884. The organization delivers integrated mental health, disability, employment, immigration, family support, early childhood, and therapeutic-education services through a federated structure of wholly-owned operating divisions: JVS Career & Employment, HIAS Chicago (refugee resettlement and immigration), Virginia Frank Child Development Center, Knapp School & Yeshiva (therapeutic day school), and Response for Teens. Service delivery combines four physical locations across Chicago, Northbrook, and Skokie with virtual/Zoom-based programming and community-based outreach into 60+ partner congregations and schools. Intake is centralized through a phone line (855.275.5237) and [email protected].
The core operating model is evidence-based clinical and social work practice: licensed clinicians deliver psychodynamic therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, play therapy, expressive arts therapy, EMDR, and trauma-informed care. The proprietary Connections: Relationship-Based Phase Model is a nationally recognized early-childhood social-emotional framework, codified in an Amazon-published book and a 5-course online learning series; it underpins an Early Childhood Training Institute and an APA-accredited Clinical Psychology doctoral training program with practicum/extern tracks staffed by graduates of nine partner universities. Integrated Pediatric Therapies provides speech-language and occupational therapy (articulation, auditory processing, executive functioning, fluency, pragmatic-social language, feeding therapy) to children with developmental delays and disabilities.
Revenue is generated through four intersecting streams: professional-services billing (insurance, including most major plans and Medicaid, plus sliding-scale fees), donations and fundraising (Elevate annual gala, tributes, planned giving), foundation and government grants (Coleman, SourceAmerica, Shear Family, Crown Family, CJE SeniorLife-adjacent supports, plus Jewish Federation operational funding), and training/education program fees (Connections Online Learning Series, clinical extern/intern training). JCFS reports 20,596 individuals served in 2025, 2,261 people with disabilities served, 2,709 Response for Teens participants, and a comprehensive donor-supported cost structure funded through the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and broader Chicago Jewish community. Free programming (grief groups, community education, certain JVS employment services) and waived fees via funder support indicate a mission-driven, accessibility-prioritized pricing posture rather than a margin-optimized one.
JCFS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- JCFS
- Legal name
- JCFS Chicago
- Website
- https://jcfs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1859
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- JCFS is a Chicago-based, 165-year-old nonprofit social services organization delivering mental health, disability, employment, immigration, early childhood, grief, and family support services through integrated clinical and community-based programs across the Chicago metropolitan area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
JCFS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Services and Human Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)
Keywords
Where JCFS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
JCFS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Services Billing: Fee-for-service revenue from therapeutic and counseling services billed to insurance (accepting most major insurance plans and Medicaid). Also accepts direct client payments.
- Donations and Fundraising: Charitable contributions, fundraising events (Elevate annual gala), tribute donations, legacy and planned giving, and in-kind donations from donors and community supporters.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Support from foundations including Coleman Foundation, SourceAmerica, Shear Family Foundation, Crown Family Foundation, and government programs. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago provides ongoing operational support.
- Training and Education Programs: Revenue from professional training programs including Connections Early Childhood Training Institute and clinical psychology extern/intern training programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Fine Motor Friends summer class |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Bubbe, Zayde and Me! parent-child class |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Birth-12 Months Parent Class series |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Sibshops sibling support sessions |
| Other | Annual | JVS Scholarships for Jewish students |
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard therapeutic services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
JCFS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
JCFS Chicago is a nonprofit social services organization providing a comprehensive suite of community-based programs including mental health counseling and therapy, career counseling and job placement, disability services, family support, grief and loss support, immigration and refugee resettlement, pediatric speech-language and occupational therapy, therapeutic day school education, and teen support services. Services are delivered through multiple service lines (JVS Career & Employment, HIAS Immigration & Citizenship, Virginia Frank Child Development Center, Response for Teens, Knapp School, Integrated Pediatric Therapies) to children, teens, adults, and families in the Chicago metropolitan area, with fees covered by insurance, Medicaid, sliding scale, donations, and grants.
Product overview
JCFS Chicago is a social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community-based programs. The organization provides services through distinct divisions including JVS Career & Employment (career counseling, job placement, disability employment services), Disability Services (home-based waivers, therapy, respite, residential supports), Family Support (adoption, counseling, financial counseling), Mental Health & Counseling (psychological evaluations, clinical training), Virginia Frank Child Development Center (early childhood mental health), Grief & Loss Services (support groups, bereavement resources), HIAS Immigration & Citizenship (refugee resettlement, citizenship support), Response for Teens (adolescent counseling and education), Integrated Pediatric Therapies (speech and occupational therapy), Knapp School (therapeutic education), and Scholarship Services. These programs operate as interconnected service lines sharing infrastructure, staff, and funding partnerships to serve individuals and families across Chicagoland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Virginia Frank Child Development Center: Nationally recognized early childhood mental health center providing therapeutic services for young children with emotional and behavioral challenges
- Duman Opportunity Center
- Connections
- Early Childhood Training Institute
Products and services
- JVS Career & Employment Comprehensive employment services including career counseling, job skills training, job placement, customized employment strategies, and small business development for job seekers of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, refugees, youth, and older adults.
- Disability Services Services for individuals with disabilities including home-based waivers, respite support, residential supports, speech-language and occupational therapy, and supported employment, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan.
- Family Support Services Adoption resources, family counseling, parenting groups, behavioral support services, and financial counseling for families in need, including support for families navigating adoption, infertility, and family-building challenges.
- Mental Health & Counseling Individual, family, and group therapy services including psychological evaluations, clinical training programs, and specialized therapeutic groups for children and families, using evidence-based approaches such as psychodynamic therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, play therapy, expressive arts therapy, and trauma-informed care.
- Virginia Frank Child Development Center Nationally recognized early childhood mental health center providing therapeutic services for young children with emotional and behavioral challenges, including early childhood mental health consultation, therapeutic preschool, family counseling, and developmental assessments, along with training for early childhood professionals.
- Grief & Loss Services Support groups and bereavement resources including monthly grief groups, specialized workshops for Jewish holidays, and Jewish chaplaincy services, with specialized programs for spouse/partner loss, older adults, and suicide loss survivors.
- HIAS Immigration & Citizenship Immigration services including case management, citizenship application support, refugee resettlement, family-based immigration, and DACA assistance, serving refugees, immigrants, Holocaust survivors, Russian-speaking communities, and Ukrainian parolees.
- Response for Teens Teen-focused services including counseling, community education programs, sexual health education, and support for parents of adolescents, addressing mental health, substance abuse, healthy relationships, and family conflict.
- Integrated Pediatric Therapies Speech-language and occupational therapy services for infants and young children with developmental delays, disabilities, and their families, addressing articulation, auditory processing, executive functioning, fluency, pragmatic-social language skills, and feeding therapy.
- Knapp School & Therapeutic Day School Special education programs providing therapeutic educational services for children with complex learning and behavioral needs in a therapeutic day school setting.
- Scholarship Services (JVS) Educational scholarship funds administered through the Jewish Federation for Jewish college and graduate students pursuing careers in helping professions, with scholarships up to $4,000 potentially renewable annually.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,596 individuals impacted by JCFS Chicago services in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use JCFS
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
JCFS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
JCFS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Jewish United Fund (JUF) / Jewish Federation of Metropolitan ChicagocoreJCFS Chicago is a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving the community. The Federation provides ongoing operational support, funding for programs including JVS scholarships, and collaborative initiatives across the Jewish community.
- Chicago Board of RabbiscoreCollaboration on grief support programs and community-wide initiatives. Joint programming for the Jewish community including holiday-related bereavement support.
- CJE SeniorLifecoreCollaboration on grief and loss resources including Russian-language bereavement toolkit and community support services for seniors.
- Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (Path to Parenthood)minorPartnership with Coalition for Family Building to assist with cost of fertility treatment and adoption. Informational webinars on LGBTQ+ family building, egg freezing, insurance coverage, and male infertility.
- The CradleminorPartner for W.I.S.E UP! Interactive Workshop for Adoptive Families, empowering children in adoptive families to embrace their stories.
- KeshetminorPartnership for First Friends program providing welcoming, play-based support for families of infants and toddlers with disabilities or complex medical needs.
- HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society)coreHIAS Chicago operates as part of JCFS Chicago, providing refugee resettlement, immigration services, citizenship assistance, and case management. Over 160 years of combined humanitarian service.
- Academic Training InstitutionscoreCollaborative relationships with The Chicago School, National Louis University, Adler University, Midwestern University, Roosevelt University, Wheaton University, Loyola College Maryland, Baylor University, and Loyola University Chicago for psychology extern and intern training.
- Congregation PartnerscoreOver 60 congregations from reform to Orthodox as part of Jewish Employment Network. Individual partnerships for grief support groups including Anshe Emet Synagogue, Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel, Emanuel Congregation, Mishkan Chicago, Chicago Sinai Congregation, Temple Sholom of Chicago, Temple Beth-El, and Congregation Beth Shalom.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
JCFS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco: The Bay Area's Jewish family services agency offering mental health, disability, vocational, immigration, and senior services under a Jewish-values framework. Most directly comparable to JCFS in mission, multi-service structure, and community-anchored model, differing primarily in geography.
- Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles: Large LA-based Jewish family services agency providing mental health, refugee resettlement, career services, and senior care. Closely comparable multi-service community-based nonprofit structure with a similar immigrant-services and mental health portfolio.
- Jewish Family Service of New York: New York's leading Jewish family services agency offering mental health, immigration, career, elder, and disability services. Comparable scope and Jewish-community-anchored model, though serving a far larger and more diverse client base.
- Metropolitan Family Services: Chicago-based community social services nonprofit providing counseling, employment, youth, and family services across the Chicago metro area. Directly comparable in size, scope, and geographic focus, though serving a more secular population.
- HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society): National refugee resettlement and immigration services organization whose Chicago operations are housed within JCFS. Directly comparable in refugee resettlement mission; HIAS national provides the policy and funding infrastructure underpinning JCFS's HIAS Chicago program.
Others
- Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago: JCFS's core funder and partner providing ongoing operational support and program funding. Thematically connected as the central Jewish community infrastructure organization in Chicago; comparable in scale and influence though not a direct service competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: One of the largest social services providers in Chicago offering counseling, immigration, housing, employment, and senior services. Comparable multi-service community-based model anchored in faith values, but significantly larger and broader in scope than JCFS.
Regional players
- Thresholds: Chicago-based nonprofit providing mental health, housing, and employment services primarily for adults with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Partial overlap with JCFS's mental health and vocational services for people with disabilities.
- UCAN: Chicago-based nonprofit serving youth, families, and communities through behavioral health, education, and workforce programs. Comparable youth counseling and family services focus; operates in adjacent segments of the Chicago social services ecosystem.
- Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty and human rights nonprofit providing services across housing, healthcare, legal aid, and refugee resettlement. Overlaps with JCFS in immigration and refugee services, mental health, and poverty-focused programs in the same geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
JCFS social profiles
Digital presenceJCFS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
JCFS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
JCFS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
JCFS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
JCFS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about JCFS
What does JCFS do?
JCFS Chicago is a nonprofit social services organization providing a comprehensive suite of community-based programs including mental health counseling and therapy, career counseling and job placement, disability services, family support, grief and loss support, immigration and refugee resettlement, pediatric speech-language and occupational therapy, therapeutic day school education, and teen support services. Services are delivered through multiple service lines (JVS Career & Employment, HIAS Immigration & Citizenship, Virginia Frank Child Development Center, Response for Teens, Knapp School, Integrated Pediatric Therapies) to children, teens, adults, and families in the Chicago metropolitan area, with fees covered by insurance, Medicaid, sliding scale, donations, and grants.
Is JCFS a public or private company?
JCFS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was JCFS founded?
JCFS was founded in 1859. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is JCFS based?
JCFS is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does JCFS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Professional Services Billing is the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, foundation and Government Grants and training and Education Programs.
Who are JCFS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, Jewish Family Service of New York, Metropolitan Family Services and HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago is listed as an others. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Thresholds, UCAN and Heartland Alliance.
Does JCFS have an API?
No public API is recorded for JCFS.
What industry is JCFS in?
JCFS's product category is Social Services and Human Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFACAI, Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers, with a secondary code of EDAKANAM, Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers). Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.