The Jerusalem Post - Guide to Charity & Nonprofits

REUT - The Israel Fellowship for Community Mental Health

GOALS AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE - REUT
It is our aim to provide a full range of high level professional services within the community along the continuum of mental health rehabilitation. In order to increase our activities, we are actively seeking to purchase an additional facility or facilities. Furthermore, as REUT is committed to guaranteeing quality care, we plan to expand our therapeutic/rehabilitative work in the areas of vocational counseling and employment opportunities, psychosocial program development and additional innovative activities for hostel residents.
REUT offers a new "lease on life" as expressed most poignantly by B. (aged 64 years) a resident of BEIT REUT: "This Passover I am not sad because now I am in my home, and there is no smell of a hospital. Even the dishes and silverware are special...I am afraid that this dream will end...".
Reut Programs REUT requires funding in order to keep the dream alive. Our only regular source of income is the compensation per person that we receive from the Ministry of Health that covers basic staffing costs. The National Insurance Institute assists with funding for furnishings and maintenance costs. REUT is actively seeking sponsorship of individual project areas as well as general support of our building projects and various rehabilitative activities. We have identified the following areas in which we plan to concentrate our efforts in the coming year and require substantial support in order to realize our dreams.

1. BUILDING PROJECTS:
a) REUT intends to open a "Bayit L'Chaim" - a long term home for older residents who require geriatric care as well as the protected environment of a hostel. This is an area of particular need in Jerusalem due to the reality of a growing population of aging mentally frail. These individuals do not require hospitalization, but often are hospitalized since there is no viable alternative. REUT is positioned to meet the challenge and provide a therapeutic, creative and highly professional option. The professional staff of REUT has already identified a group of individuals who are currently hospitalized and would be suitable for such a residence.
b) We are extremely interested in purchasing our own facility for "Reutenu," our second hostel, which opened in February 1999 as opposed to continuing with a rental. The continual search and the "threat" of having to move are unsettling to the residents. Ownership will afford us security, especially as long term rentals are extremely difficult to find in Jerusalem. Furthermore, as the focus of our rehabilitation efforts is to connect the residents with the variety of services available within a particular community; stability of location is an important therapeutic factor as well.
2. VOCATIONAL PLACEMENT COORDINATOR
A central aspect of the rehabilitation program in the REUT hostels is connecting the residents with appropriate work opportunities. At present there are limited work options available to the residents. There is a strong need for professional assistance devoted entirely to expanding, supervising and coordinating the employment opportunities. The placement counselor's tasks would include searching for new places of work for the residents, communicating with the residents and the employers, as well as overall supervision and evaluation of the various work options.
3. PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAM DEVELOPEMENT
In both hostels the residents require assistance in structuring the many hours outside work, meal time or household related tasks. The REUT staff would like to expand the program in the expressive therapies such as dance/movement therapy, psychodrama and art therapy. At present there is limited use of these important techniques due to budgetary constraints.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES such as group outings, overnight trips and holiday celebrations are integral components of rehabilitation. Many of the residents experience these "regular" activities for the very first time in their lives thanks to REUT. For example, last year during an outing several residents (all over 50 year old) bathed in the sea, something they had never had the opportunity to do before! They were quite apprehensive at first, but with the coaxing of the staff entered the water, enjoyed themselves and were extremely pleased with their accomplishment! REUT requires financial support and sponsorship in order to facilitate such exciting events.
4. PROFESSIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT
It has been widely written in the literature that in order to ensure staff motivation, the administration must invest in the staff. REUT would like to offer its professional staff the opportunity to take part in conferences and training seminars and develop a topnotch professional library for staff use within the hostels. Investing in the staff also includes some "fun time" which facilitates staff cohesion and increases motivation, creativity and professional satisfaction. REUT plans to organize a conference on creative approaches to mental health rehabilitation within the community. It is our hope that these seminars will create a forum for professionals from Israel and abroad to learn together and share their knowledge.
5. EMPOWERMENT
REUT considers empowerment of the mentally ill to be an integral component of a successful rehabilitation program. Various projects are currently being discussed which could give a push towards realization of this dream. One example is a workshop/store that would be located in a commercial area of Jerusalem. It would be staffed by hostel residents who could manage the books, do the advertising, maintain the facility and make decisions regarding the business under careful supervision by professional staff. Given the necessary financial support; dreams such as this can indeed become a reality and a crucial stepping stone towards greater independence and self fulfillment.

In the fall of 2000, REUT launched an expanded sheltered housing program thereby offering an even wider range of rehabilitative options within the community. Groups of 2, 3 and 4 persons are experiencing an increased degree of independent living under the auspicies of this professionally supervised program. All of the individuals are employed, and are completely responsible for the running of their own households: managing finances, shopping and cooking, cleaning and organizing their free time.
These folks are making a tremendous effort towards complete rehabilitation within the community. Most of them work in sheltered work settings and receive minimal reimbursement for their efforts. They are learning to get by - independently - on a very modest income. They have very little left over, if anything, to participate in hobbies, go to the theatre or the movies, a membership at the local swimming pool etc. YOUR financial assistance could make many of these "extra curricular" dreams become a reality for these people who struggle daily to overcome their emotional handicap.

REUT - The Israel Fellowship for Community Mental Health

	GOALS AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE - REUT It is our aim to provide a full range of high level professional services within the community along the continuum of mental health rehabilitation. In order to increase our activities, we are actively seeking to purchase an additional facility or facilities. Furthermore, as REUT is committed to guaranteeing quality care, we plan to expand our therapeutic/rehabilitative work in the areas of vocational counseling and employment opportunities, psychosocial program development and additional innovative activities for hostel residents. REUT offers a new "lease on life" as expressed most poignantly by B. (aged 64 years) a resident of BEIT REUT: "This Passover I am not sad because now I am in my home, and there is no smell of a hospital. Even the dishes and silverware are special...I am afraid that this dream will end...". REUT requires funding in order to keep the dream alive. Our only regular source of income is the compensation per person that we receive from the Ministry of Health that covers basic staffing costs. The National Insurance Institute assists with funding for furnishings and maintenance costs. REUT is actively seeking sponsorship of individual project areas as well as general support of our building projects and various rehabilitative activities. We have identified the following areas in which we plan to concentrate our efforts in the coming year and require substantial support in order to realize our dreams. 1. BUILDING PROJECTS: a) REUT intends to open a "Bayit L'Chaim" - a long term home for older residents who require geriatric care as well as the protected environment of a hostel. This is an area of particular need in Jerusalem due to the reality of a growing population of aging mentally frail. These individuals do not require hospitalization, but often are hospitalized since there is no viable alternative. REUT is positioned to meet the challenge and provide a therapeutic, creative and highly professional option. The professional staff of REUT has already identified a group of individuals who are currently hospitalized and would be suitable for such a residence. b) We are extremely interested in purchasing our own facility for "Reutenu," our second hostel, which opened in February 1999 as opposed to continuing with a rental. The continual search and the "threat" of having to move are unsettling to the residents. Ownership will afford us security, especially as long term rentals are extremely difficult to find in Jerusalem. Furthermore, as the focus of our rehabilitation efforts is to connect the residents with the variety of services available within a particular community; stability of location is an important therapeutic factor as well. 2. VOCATIONAL PLACEMENT COORDINATOR A central aspect of the rehabilitation program in the REUT hostels is connecting the residents with appropriate work opportunities. At present there are limited work options available to the residents. There is a strong need for professional assistance devoted entirely to expanding, supervising and coordinating the employment opportunities. The placement counselor's tasks would include searching for new places of work for the residents, communicating with the residents and the employers, as well as overall supervision and evaluation of the various work options. 3. PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAM DEVELOPEMENT In both hostels the residents require assistance in structuring the many hours outside work, meal time or household related tasks. The REUT staff would like to expand the program in the expressive therapies such as dance/movement therapy, psychodrama and art therapy. At present there is limited use of these important techniques due to budgetary constraints. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES such as group outings, overnight trips and holiday celebrations are integral components of rehabilitation. Many of the residents experience these "regular" activities for the very first time in their lives thanks to REUT. For example, last year during an outing several residents (all over 50 year old) bathed in the sea, something they had never had the opportunity to do before! They were quite apprehensive at first, but with the coaxing of the staff entered the water, enjoyed themselves and were extremely pleased with their accomplishment! REUT requires financial support and sponsorship in order to facilitate such exciting events. 4. PROFESSIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT It has been widely written in the literature that in order to ensure staff motivation, the administration must invest in the staff. REUT would like to offer its professional staff the opportunity to take part in conferences and training seminars and develop a topnotch professional library for staff use within the hostels. Investing in the staff also includes some "fun time" which facilitates staff cohesion and increases motivation, creativity and professional satisfaction. REUT plans to organize a conference on creative approaches to mental health rehabilitation within the community. It is our hope that these seminars will create a forum for professionals from Israel and abroad to learn together and share their knowledge. 5. EMPOWERMENT REUT considers empowerment of the mentally ill to be an integral component of a successful rehabilitation program. Various projects are currently being discussed which could give a push towards realization of this dream. One example is a workshop/store that would be located in a commercial area of Jerusalem. It would be staffed by hostel residents who could manage the books, do the advertising, maintain the facility and make decisions regarding the business under careful supervision by professional staff. Given the necessary financial support; dreams such as this can indeed become a reality and a crucial stepping stone towards greater independence and self fulfillment. In the fall of 2000, REUT launched an expanded sheltered housing program thereby offering an even wider range of rehabilitative options within the community. Groups of 2, 3 and 4 persons are experiencing an increased degree of independent living under the auspicies of this professionally supervised program. All of the individuals are employed, and are completely responsible for the running of their own households: managing finances, shopping and cooking, cleaning and organizing their free time. These folks are making a tremendous effort towards complete rehabilitation within the community. Most of them work in sheltered work settings and receive minimal reimbursement for their efforts. They are learning to get by - independently - on a very modest income. They have very little left over, if anything, to participate in hobbies, go to the theatre or the movies, a membership at the local swimming pool etc. YOUR financial assistance could make many of these "extra curricular" dreams become a reality for these people who struggle daily to overcome their emotional handicap.