In a long-awaited development on the Israeli social services
scene, a new community-based resource center now addresses
the specific needs of the English-speaking religious
population.
Operating with the haskomo of gedolei Yisroel,
Tvunot (Insights) Family Resource Center provides a
diverse range of services, including professional child and
family counselling, specialized educational guidance, school-
based intervention, new immigrant support services, and
parental guidance, in a comfortable, confidential
setting.
"We want to provide a central address for English-speaking
parents who are experiencing family challenges, yet don't
know where to turn for solutions," explains the director of
the new center, which is located in central Jerusalem.
"For example, a young boy or girl may be presenting a
discipline problem at home or at school. Alternately, a
child might be suffering from learning or social
disabilities. Symptoms such as these may signal stress or
adjustment difficulties in the life of the child, the
parents, or the family itself. If the family are also
olim, their adjustment process may be that much more
difficult."
Raising a family in a foreign culture, far from familiar
support systems, often leaves parents feeling frightened and
frustrated when they seek help for their more serious family
challenges. With its multifaceted treatment program and all-
English- speaking staff, Tvunot eliminates the typical
"runaround" endured by English-speaking parents who want to
know, "Where do we find this type of testing?" or, "Who does
this type of therapy?"
Tvunot also represents a unique departure from standard
Israeli social services. Operating from the standpoint of
early prevention, the center's therapists try to identify
problems in their beginning stages. After assessing areas
that could be treated successfully, therapists access a
variety of treatment options to improve functioning in
school and at home. Services are provided on a subsidized
basis when necessary.
Interacting with teachers and administrators in the Israeli
educational systems is the number-one handicap of English-
speaking parents. If a child is not functioning well in
school for an extended period of time, Tvunot's special
educational advisor will accompany parents directly into the
school to support, translate, and facilitate mutual
understanding and decision-making.
New immigrant support services are a long overdue addition
to Israel's community resource scene. At Tvunot, new olim
can discuss their specific educational and psychological
needs with a trained counselor. They will also receive
guidance on issues such as school placement and adjustment,
communication between parents and schools, and parent-child
communication.
To supplement its core counselling services, Tvunot promotes
English-language parenting courses. The group workshops are
designed to help participants improve their parenting
skills, build self-confidence, and acquire the ability to
spot possible learning disabilities in their children at an
early age.
"We want to create a model center of multifaceted,
preventative services which can be adapted for use by the
Israeli-born population, as well as by the international
Jewish community," the director notes.
For more information, please contact Mrs. Rena Orlowek or
Mrs. Rivka Friedlander at 02-537-7697; e-mail: medwed@el-
net.net.
