Date: Wednesday, 

September 2

Time: 8:00-9:30 ET / 7:00-8:30 CT / 6:00-7:30 MT
 

Click here for enrollment: https://forms.gle/jx7ZaKYsMd6MoVe18

The zoom link: https://juf-org.zoom.us/j/83224957309?pwd=EAV3Z3SMNJZoyWbSJF4vbUYC9rU9K1.1

 

Coping with Curveballs 
Supporting Yourself and Others

In partnership with JCFS Chicago

With - Bracha Jakofsky, LCSW & Rabbi Dr. Joseph S. Ozarowski

Course Objectives

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

  • Identify the six coping channels of the BASIC PH model and recognize their own preferred coping strategies through self-assessment.
     
  • Apply the BASIC PH framework to practical scenarios to identify effective coping strategies and promote resilience.
     
  • Develop a personalized plan that incorporates their strengths and preferred coping strategies to support their own wellbeing.
     
  • Explore ways to use the BASIC PH model to strengthen resilience and wellbeing within their family and community.

 

The Six Coping Channels

Each letter in the acronym BASIC Ph stands for a different dimension of human coping behavior: 

  • B – Belief and values: Faith, spirituality, a sense of mission, or personal core values that give meaning to life events.
  • A – Affect (emotions): Expressing and processing feelings through crying, laughing, talking, writing, or art.
  • S – Social: Relying on family, friends, community roles, or group belonging for mutual support.
  • I – Imagination: Using creativity, humor, daydreams, fantasy, or arts to distract and find alternative solutions.
  • C – Cognition: Problem-solving, gathering information, planning, and organizing a direct logical response.
  • Ph – Physiological (Physical): Using the body through physical activity, relaxation, sleep, nutrition, or breathing exercises.

 

 

The Facilitators:

Bracha Jakofsky , LCSW is the Abuse Prevention Coordinator & Mental Health Educator at JCFS, dedicated to advancing mental health and safeguarding the Jewish community. Holding a master’s in social work from UIC, she brings over a decade of experience in mental health and community services.

Bracha has developed, customized, and delivered numerous mental health programs and curricula, equipping community members and professionals with tools for emotional resilience and wellness.

Additionally, she is a key leader in the SMART Kids abuse prevention program, reaching over 2,500 students and training over 1,000 professionals in child safety.

With a deep commitment to the Jewish community, Bracha builds strong partnerships to provide impactful prevention and mental health education. She also serves as a board member for Nefesh Chicago. 

 

 

Rabbi Dr. Joseph S. Ozarowski is Rabbinic Counselor and Chaplain for JCFS Chicago. He is also an adjunct professor at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Hebrew Seminary, as well as the Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles.

Rabbi Ozarowski was cited by Chicago Jewish News as a “Top Jewish Chicagoan of 2013,” and received the “Rabbi Mordechai Simon Award” from the Chicago Board of Rabbis in 2014. He served as President of the Board of Rabbis from 2015 to 2017 and President of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) from 2022-2024.

This coming May, he will be receiving the National Lay Leadership Award from the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies. An engaging, nationally known teacher and speaker, Ozarowski has served congregations in Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota and the New York area.

Rabbi Dr. Ozarowski is a Board-Certified Chaplain. He received his undergraduate degree from Loyola University of Chicago, his rabbinic ordination from Skokie’s Hebrew Theological College and his doctorate from Lancaster (PA) Theological Seminary. He has served on the Jewish Federation of Chicago (JUF) Board and on the North Shore University (Endeavor) HealthCare System Institutional Ethics Committee.

A prolific author, Rabbi Ozarowski co-authored Common Ground, (1998, Jason Aronson) and has written numerous articles and chapters in various books. His first book, To Walk in God’s Ways - Jewish Pastoral Perspectives on Illness and Bereavement, (hard cover 1995, Jason Aronson, paperback 2004, Rowman and Littlefield) is considered a standard in the field of Judaism and Pastoral Care.

Rabbi Ozarowski is married to Ashira (nee Rapoport), has four children and twenty grandchildren.