News & Impact

A Q&A with Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet Following October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents in K – 12 schools surged by 135%, creating unprecedented challenges for Jewish families. Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet, LCSW, Education Specialist at the JFCS Holocaust Center, brings over 40 years of experience as a clinical social worker to help parents navigate these difficult conversations with their teens. Q: What trends and concerns have you observed in your work with parents since  October 7, 2023? A: Since October 7, parents have been reaching out to us as their teens face intensified antisemitism both in school and online. My workshop “Raising Jewish … Read More

Fighting for justice is a core value behind the work we do at JFCS. Guided by our Jewish values, JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth advocates with government and communities to create a better world for children and families here in California and beyond. Some of the successful initiatives JFCS has supported include establishing suicide prevention offices across the state, strengthening parity in insurance coverage for mental health services, and establishing 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Hotline for anyone in a mental health crisis. Currently, JFCS is supporting SB 287, Senator Nancy Skinner’s crucial bill to hold social media… Read More

According to the Pew Research Center’s new “Parenting in America Today” report, the top concern among parents of children under the age of 18 is mental health. Dr. Sarita Patel, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Center for Children and Youth, a division of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, answers timely questions about children’s mental health today and what help is available.   What kinds of issues are you seeing among children these days? At the Center for Children and Youth, the most prevalent concerns among children and teens are depression and anxiety. Rates of depression and anxiety were rising… Read More

A roadmap for parents by Dr. Madeline Levine, psychologist, bestselling author, and Expert Panelist at JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth. As they pose for their first day of school photos, children and parents have more concerns than ever about returning to classrooms this fall. Parents are worrying—will my child survive socially? Are they behind academically after learning from home? Is my child’s back-to-school anxiety cause for alarm? We sat down with parenting expert Dr. Madeline Levine to discuss families’ rising concerns about heading back to school. Based on her deep experience, and on insights from her recent book… Read More

By Brittney Reiser, AMFT, Child Therapist at JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth Receiving a positive COVID-19 test in your family or community can be frightening for adults and children alike. Young children, who may not fully understand what this diagnosis will mean for them or their loved one, might ask questions like “Am I going to die?” or “When can I see grandma?” These questions may be painful to hear and difficult to answer. Parents and grandparents are likely managing their own anxiety, confusion, and uncertainty that comes along with a COVID diagnosis as well. Here are 5 strategies… Read More

“What is happening, Mommy?” “Are we going to war?” As we process the recent violence at the U.S. Capitol, our children may be asking questions that are difficult to answer. How should we talk to our kids and grandkids about such a difficult topic? How do we support them through stress, anxiety, and uncertainty? And how can we teach empathy, understanding, and respect so that future generations are inspired to build unity and to stand up against hate? JFCS offers a wide range of expert guidance and support to guide families through challenging conversations and to bring our community together.… Read More