News & Impact

Raising children today is more challenging than ever before, especially in the Bay Area. Without a place to turn for coordinated services, too many families don’t find the help they need until it is too late.

To address this growing crisis and serve thousands of Bay Area children, JFCS has announced the launch of its new Center for Children and Youth. 

One of the largest initiatives ever undertaken by JFCS in its 170-year history, the Center for Children and Youth is bringing together and expanding critical services in four key areas:

1. Parent consultation and community education through JFCS’ Parents Place;
2. Clinical services for children, teens, and families;
3. Advocacy, public policy, and coalition-building with partner organizations; and
4. Research and training for mental health professionals through JFCS’ Child Training Institute (CTI).

Young people are under the constant pressure of high-stakes competition in and out of school, and non-stop interaction with social media is stressing teens out. Depression and anxiety in young people is at unprecedented levels and the teen suicide rate has quadrupled since 1950.

Only a multi-pronged approach will be successful in impacting the landscape. The Center for Children and Youth is a force in Northern California on behalf of all our children and teens.

Dr. Anita Friedman, Executive Director of JFCS, says, “We have created a major center where families can come and know they will get the help that they need, whenever they need it and regardless of ability to pay. JFCS is here for Bay Area families, as we have been for 170 years.”

JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth is made possible by generous donations, fees, and the leadership support of Dr. Kathy Fields-Rayant and Dr. Garry Rayant, Taube Philanthropies, the Harold and Libby Ziff Foundation and Lela & Gerry Sarnat, and the Friend Family Foundation. To learn more about JFCS’ services to our community or to support the Center for Children and Youth please contact Barbara Farber at [email protected] or 415-449-3858. 

Learn more about JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth >

Visit the JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth website >

See upcoming CTI workshops for mental health professionals >

Donate to the Center for Children and Youth >