Aleh Jerusalem Update Summary – 2007
Mar 13, 08
As Aleh Jerusalem enters its second decade of service to children with severe disabilities, we present this summary report of the year 2007.
I. Policies & Structure
Our departments are all well established and operate according to specific goals that have been customized to meet the specialized needs of our population – the families and children living at Aleh. At the heart of all activity and goals is the recognition that every family and every child is different, and each one has its individualized needs.
It is important to stress that new dilemmas and issues constantly arise that do not neatly fit into the regular, established pattern. Aleh’s senior staff is often called upon to deal with situations that require weighty decisions regarding the optimal solution for the children and their families.
We do not have iron-clad policies. We hold frequent meetings and forums with the relevant staff members on a steady basis. Many times we invite outside advisors who are familiar with our guiding principles and can clarify the issues by presenting us with the various views. In this way we gain an outsider’s perspective and more objectivity before making a decision.
Each member of the senior staff, all of whom are highly qualified with many years of experience in their specific field, represents an individual department within the facility. She directs her own group of staff members who work as a multi-disciplinary team with the other staffs. Each department is professional and efficient, and each has a program including training, development and initiative. Most of the departments develop their own budget plan; working within the budget allocated it by the facility. The staff directors are required to present an annual working plan, which they use as their base and springboard for the year. Discussions and periodic updates regarding actualization of the set goals are conducted on a constant basis.
II. Goals & Priorities
A. Family Involvement
The families of the children in our care continue to be one of our main focuses. We see the family as our partners in all matters related to decisions involving the children’s medical, educational and rehabilitative care, as well as integration in daily activity in the facility.
This joint partnership continues to grow and expand in scope. A new parents’ committee was set up this past year. It meets with the staff on a steady basis and is active in advancing various projects meant to benefit the children and the staff.
During the year we also held numerous events that brought families, siblings, workers and volunteers together with the children: bar/bat mitzvah celebrations, holiday events, singing and dancing occasions, etc. We will continue in this direction of encouraging family bonding and involvement in the coming year as well.
B. Staff Guidance
This past year we placed a great deal of emphasis on staff guidance, spotting areas with recurrent problems and mishaps, and putting into writing procedures and their reasoning for the entire staff. There was constant review of all shifts throughout the week regarding the quality of the care and treatment being given to the children, the effectiveness of the multi-disciplinary approach, etc.
The committee to discuss exceptional issues met once in 3 months. The discussions centered around a detailed breakdown of the issues, the lessons to be learned from mistakes, and recognizing the danger factors. During the annual gathering for all staff members we discussed all our findings in a responsible way, with conclusions for improvement and prevention in the future.
Continuation of staff guidance will remain a priority for the coming year as well.
C. Expansion of Outpatient Clinic
Our Child Development Center on behalf of special-needs children from the community continues to grow and offer a greater variety of therapeutic services. The clinic is open during afternoon hours. Agreements with 3 of Israel’s main insurances – Clalit, Maccabi, and Leumit – were concluded during the year.
D. Multi-disciplinary Cooperation
An excellent example of the quality and success of the multi-disciplinary approach was obvious this year during the forums held on a steady basis. The forums were based on topics and included relevant staff members from each department. There was a “sitting apparatus” forum, an “eating issues” forum etc., each of which drew recommendations and conclusions for helping the children progress.
E. Expansion Campaign
The last quarter of the year saw the beginning of our long-awaited expansion, with construction moving along at a fast pace. The new wing is expected to be completed by the end of this coming year, giving us the opportunity to accept another 30 children.
Further construction plans include the building of a hydrotherapy pool, followed by renovations of the existing rooms and school facilities. Although the on-site construction presents us with daily challenges and difficulties, we look forward to enjoying the results!
III. Operational Summary
A. Population
There are presently 69 children in Aleh Jerusalem.
3 new children were accepted this year. They integrated extremely well in all daily activities.
2 children unfortunately passed away during the year.
B. Medical Clinic
The clinic continues its stress on medicinal prevention, bringing in various outside professionals for their advice and recommendations regarding decision-making and the setting of therapy methods per child. The medical and supportive staff members are integrated in all levels of activity within the various staff departments to enhance the children’s opportunities and safety. They are also in constant touch with the families of the children.
During the year, a number of Aleh’s children were classified as “highly dependent” due to their complex medical conditions. This new classification, given by the Ministry of Health, enabled Aleh to hire additional qualified nurses, offer specialized training courses and an updated approach to its existing staff, and accept another doctor to ensure professional medical care on premises at all times.
A medical staff representative participates in the guidance forum and trains all the staff members according to a working plan developed in advance.
C. Special Education School
The school currently incorporates 7 classes and one kindergarten.
Staff members include special-education teachers, paramedical therapists, and students studying these fields from Israel and abroad.
Emphasis is placed on customizing programs and projects to meet the needs and abilities of each child in the school.
Younger children and older teenagers who are not officially part of the school system are nevertheless integrated by Aleh in two unique programs this year:
· A special Early Intervention Program for infants and toddlers under the direction of an early development specialist has been extremely successful.
· A Vocational Training Workshop for older children, to prepare them for vocational opportunities as they mature.
D. Cultural and Recreational Activity
Extra-curricular activities are constantly taking place in Aleh Jerusalem, during afternoon hours, on vacation school days, and on Shabbat and holidays.
Volunteers play an important role in the success of this program. This year a new volunteer coordinator was appointed to handle the vital need for volunteers as well as the huge response. There are currently more than 100 steady volunteers in Aleh Jerusalem.
The Special Education School Program and the Cultural Activity Program work in tandem and supplement one another. Through both of them new, creative projects are constantly being developed and carried out.
E. Physiotherapy
This year focused on improving seating apparatuses and ongoing maintenance of all physiotherapy equipment.
Physiotherapy activities took on new forms and methods throughout the day – mornings, afternoons and weekends, and by various staff members who received guidance.
An orthopedic specialist provides professional opinion and advice to Aleh Jerusalem on a steady basis. This year he helped formulate a scoliosis prevention program.
Respiratory sessions continue intensely. Both of these programs were developed in response to Aleh’s principles concerning quality of life and the prevention of complications and deterioration.
Many hours were invested in offering guidance and supervision during the operation of the various physiotherapy programs. Special attention was given to the correct use of the equipment by all staff members. A mini-course provided professional training for rehabilitative assistants.
F. Operational Efficiency
With the hiring of an additional maintenance staff member, the daily operations within the facility are much smoother and efficient.
This includes all activities related to the cleanliness of the facility as well as purchases of food, clothes and personal hygiene.
G. Social Work
The emphasis on family bonding was strengthened through the excellent rapport between Aleh’s social worker and the families, many of whom established a steady connection with their children this past year. Other responsibilities included working with staff members, community members, volunteers and their charges.
The social worker also established a support system for the staff as preparation for dealing with children with terminal illnesses.
H. Psychologist
Aleh’s psychologist provided advice and organization for all departments within the facility. She presented psychology reports based on the expectations and set behavioral programs developed for each child. She also paid close attention to the difficulties of the staff members in coping with certain realities, and helped build an appropriate guidance program in response.
I. Therapy Team
This is the largest group of staff members in the facility. A great deal of effort was invested in consolidating the department and updating and clarifying its procedures. High-quality guidance and training programs were offered to ensure the skills necessary, offering enrichment, knowledge and integration of staff within a multi-disciplinary team.
J. Outpatient Clinic - Child Development Center
Aleh’s paramedical clinic offers a wide variety of therapy treatments to special-needs children from the community. It continues to grow and expand, and currently accepts children from 3 of Israel’s insurance companies.
IV. Goals for 2008
· Continuation of training programs for staffs of the various departments, given by senior staff members and outside professionals; hiring of highly qualified new staff members
· Retrospective research on extraordinary situations, and presentation of research findings to entire staff. Goal: delineation of reasons, areas, types of children at risk etc. and reaching effective conclusions
· Developing activities and initiatives for staff members, for enrichment and to prevent burnout. Special emphasis on knowledge-building and skills for working within a multi-disciplinary approach – cooperation, exchange of information etc.
Continuation of support system and day trips for the various staff groups
· New computerized system – first stage: human resources management
· Development and expansion of vocational training workshop program
· Expanding early-intervention programs
· Program to prepare young adults for a move to a new framework
· Integration of Aleh staff as lecturers in various academic institutes; arranging seminars given by Alehfor professionals and non- professionals
· Developing specialized Shabbat cultural program with appropriate equipment
· Expanding support group programs for families
· Purchase of modernized medical, paramedical and stimulatory equipment
· Hiring a medical advisor as part of the steady medical staff
Summary:
Extensive activity, ongoing cooperation between staffs, awareness of the importance for ongoing training and furthering of knowledge, connecting with community factors, and the clear message that Aleh services the children and their extended families, are the principles that guided us throughout this year. These principles will continue to lead us in the year to come.
Above all, our success is due to our extraordinary staff members, both senior and junior, who give their hearts and souls to the development of the children. Included as well are the dozens of dedicated volunteers and the families who are our equal partners in all our efforts. Thank you to all for your overwhelming support!
Shlomit Grayevsky
Director, Aleh Jerusalem
