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Community Youth Programs

Step Up to Kindness Program

The Step Up to Kindness program is an anti-bullying club for students that combines social-emotional learning and fun activities. The program is based on an evidence-based curriculum called Second Step. Each session focuses on a specific topic such as dealing with peer pressure, seeking help from adults, accepting differences, and taking other’s perspectives. The program includes several lessons specific to bullying prevention. In these lessons, students learn how to “recognize, report, and refuse” bullying, and about bystander power and responsibility.

The program is implemented by JFCS masters-level clinicians and masters-level interns. At the end of each semester, we host a family night to celebrate the students’ success. For these family nights, we bring in a catered meal and allow the students to teach their caregivers what they have learned and engage in a fun activity together.

Do One More Thing (Jewishly)

The Rabbi Arthur Oleisky, z”l, “Do One More Thing (Jewishly)” initiative addresses the growing mental health needs of Tucson’s Jewish pre-teens and teens (ages 10-18). Named in honor of the late Rabbi Arthur R. Oleisky, who served Congregation Anshei Israel for over 28 years and was deeply concerned about youth mental health, this program launched in August 2025 with a dedicated full-time Youth Counselor. 

Through our partnership with Tucson Hebrew Academy and the broader Jewish community, we provide comprehensive mental health support, resources, and programming to help young people navigate today’s unique challenges, from social isolation to rising antisemitism. This initiative serves as a key community resource, offering both school-based and community-wide support for Jewish families.

Partnership with Tucson Hebrew Academy

JFCS of Southern Arizona maintains a longstanding partnership with Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA), providing comprehensive mental health support to students. Our school counselor provides push-in classroom assistance, individual emotional regulation support, small group sessions on social skills, individualized success plans, and consultation with teachers on behavior management strategies.

This partnership creates opportunities to support students from diverse backgrounds within an environment dedicated to academic excellence and community building. The services evolve to meet the changing needs of the THA community throughout the school year. When young people receive adequate mental health support in their school environment, the entire community benefits.