Healthy Families in Israel
August 1, 2018
Healthy Families America is pleased and proud to announce the launch of Healthy Families Israel. We have been working in close contact for nearly a year with leaders from Youth Futures, Inc. a subsidiary of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and their partners from Digma Applied Evaluation and the University of Haifa. Before selecting HFA, our new Israeli partners conducted a review of more than twelve different evidence-based home visiting models, ultimately selecting HFA due to its strong evidence base and flexible programming.
Kathleen Strader and Kate Whitaker traveled to Israel in May (see photo below) and then in June welcomed members of the Youth Futures team to the HFA headquarters in Chicago. While in Chicago, we had the chance to learn more from the HF Israel team, including Liat Riff (pictured below, third from right).
Kate and Kathleen traveled to Israel to see some of the new Healthy Families Israel program sites first hand and to meet with staff from JAFI, Youth Futures, and the University of Haifa.
“When I have to explain why we chose [Healthy Families America] I said ‘you know, they are so professional, and they have all these tools, and a great evidence base, but you know – they are also good people” said Raff. “They were willing to work with us, to understand us, and make sure it was a good match.”
We are thrilled about this opportunity to extend the reach of Healthy Families services to Israel! The team has gotten off to a fast start and families have already begun to be recruited and served in six pilot communities throughout the country. Currently the program is serving both Jewish and Arab sectors and there are plans to expand to all thirty-six Israeli localities countrywide.
JAFI has provided critically needed support and service to individuals and families for 90 years and Youth Futures, Inc has provided mentoring to families with school-age children since 2005. The agency’s dedication to quality service, it’s focus on relational health as the foundation for optimal outcomes, and passion for achieving family and child well-being for all, make this collaboration a perfect fit. We are grateful to our newest friends and colleagues in Israel for what we predict to be a long and mutually rewarding relationship aimed at improving the lives of families with young children.