MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends,

Ziva Schapiro

As we wish our children farewell at the school gate or in the class room on their first day back at school, many parents may subconsciously be thinking of the expression “Shana Tova  v'Gmar Chatima Tova”  -  that their children should literally have a good year and receive a stamp of “approval” from teachers, counselors, friends etc.  It’s not that easy though for many children who need assistance to have a “shana tova” and sometimes to get that stamp is near impossible without intervention of some kind. 

At Mercaz Rakefet we continue to provide all the services of a child development center under one roof providing coordinated therapy.  Our occupational, speech and physiotherapists work together with our psychologists, social workers, special ed. teachers, to help your child reach their milestones and further.  Many of you may not be aware that our 35 therapists meet weekly to discuss children in their care and to learn from each other on issues in their field. 

Though our grant funding has been adversely affected by the economic downturn, we have not trimmed our LVL programs.  We are thinking more creatively about how to fund programs in the community to develop awareness and educate parents from all backgrounds on issues relating to their children.   We hope to open a new program in the coming months providing enrichment activities to children with special needs to allow them to experience chugim just as their siblings and others do.  We are working tirelessly to get the toy library and developmental playroom open to the public with many volunteer hours (both from the community and staff) but as we have no ongoing funding for this project our resources are limited. 

We are excited to be part of the upcoming 5K Beit Shemesh Community Walk/Run where proceeds of this year’s event will be donated to LVL to ensure we continue to provide the Beit Shemesh and Ramat Beit Shemesh community the programs and services you all know and expect.  We look forward to seeing you and your families participating on Friday, 6 November 2009 as both a recreational, fun day with the family and as a way of fundraising for an organization you know from the inside.

Wishing you all a "Shana Tova v' Gmar Chatima Tova" in the truest sense from me and the staff of Ligdol v’Lifroach and be assured that this is what we continuously aim to achieve for your child.

B’vracha,
Ziva Schapiro

UPDATE ON LVL PROGRAMS
 
Helping local families
Mercaz Rakefet Child Development Center

Our front desk staff – Rochel Black (left) and Maya Douglen

We recently were able to make a difference in the life of a 3 year old boy and his family. When Yosef (not his real name) was referred to therapy in January this year, he was barely speaking, unable to sit and play for more than 2 minutes and constantly screamed and threw the toys. Mom could not leave him alone in a room for a second, without him destroying his surroundings. . Yosef had been thrown out of cheder and was placed in a gan with younger children where his parents had to pay for an aide or else he would not be allowed in gan. His parents were very concerned and at their wits end. They were running from professional to professional looking for a diagnosis. It was suggested that the child had an autistic spectrum disorder, but our staff did not agree. He started speech and language therapy because of the severe language delay, but the speech therapist quickly called in an occupational therapist to consult and try to understand his behavior.  The occupational therapist diagnosed a sensory processing disorder and started implementing a sensory diet, working in conjunction with the speech therapist and the parents.

Several months have passed and Yosef's behavior has greatly improved.  He now plays with toys and his language skills are developing. Our staff supported the parents in their search for the appropriate learning environment and served as their anchor in the choppy seas.  With our coordinated therapy approach were able to recognize that Yosef is not on the autistic spectrum and will be starting a gan safa in September. 

Our Therapy Assistance Fund for families with limited financial resources provides children with therapies generally not covered Health funds. We make a difference in their lives at home, at school and socially by addressing their issues regardless of their ability to pay. Many of their families are classified as living below the poverty line. Their children are in need of speech, occupational and more often now, emotional therapy to help them succeed in life. 

Our Toy Library and Developmental Playroom is now open to families in therapy at Mercaz Rakefet.  We use the "miklat" adjacent to the Center and with the help of volunteers through Partnership 2000 and batmitzvah girls from Etrog elementary school (RBS), we have transformed the walls into a underground "aquarium" to make it more attractive for children to visit!  Families who use this facility are generally those who do not have appropriate toys at home.  We give them the opportunity to borrow items to develop their children's skills in between therapy sessions. 

6th graders from the Etrog Elementary School visit Mercaz Rakefet

Brightening up the walls of the Toy Library as a batmitzvah "chesed" project

From Risk to Opportunity: Esti Morgenstern, physiotherapist, working with a child in a local daycare center

Early childhood programs
We continue to work in a local RBS daycare center with our project "From Risk to Opportunity" integrating special needs children with Down syndrome and other developmental issues into mainstream daycare.  We provide therapy on site and guidance to staff on how to deal with the children's needs. 

Our program "Success Begins at Home" works with parents and children (6 mths – 3 yrs) from disadvantaged families to develop language and literacy skills through books and toys.  We partner with the Benjamin Children's Library in this project and have 25 families attending on a weekly basis. Our role in this project is to guide parents on child development issues (speech and occupational) that can be identified at a young age and helped through home play and individual attention.  The families visit our toy library as part of the program and learn to use household objects as aids for counting, colors, numbers etc. 

Success Begins at Home: Parents and children enjoy a session using books and toys to develop language and literacy skills.

Elementary school children programs
Remedial teaching in local elementary schools provides children with learning assistance during school hours.  We teach children within their school environment, without the need to leave the school, so that their afternoon home hours are not spent in more lessons.  Our remedial teaching staff assesses each child and builds a tailor-made program.  They are in contact with the school staff throughout the year providing group or private lessons depending on individual needs.

Youth programs
Forty local high school students considered "at risk" annually receive our assistance through psycho-didactic evaluations to identify their learning difficulties which have until now hindered their learning and provided them and their families with much frustration.   Through our program they receive subsidized evaluations and are able to receive assistance with learning and leniencies in their exams with the ultimate aim to keep them in the education system and matriculate in 12th grade.

WHAT'S NEW AT LVL
In response to the language difficulties of many of our bi-lingual children, Mercaz Rakefet has re-vamped our Hebrew language enrichment program and will be running educational chugim during the coming school year for children in gan and grades 1-2.

The program has been designed by our remedial teaching staff together with language experts in our speech and language department.

Aruchat Boker Israelit: Our hostess, Dvora Brandstetter (right) with Batsheva Fass, a member of our Board, at our first overseas fundraising event.

The chug will meet twice a week for greater benefit and will help Anglo children learn to use Hebrew language skills in small groups with specific guidance for the home.  If you are interested, please respond to info@mercazrakefet.org and we will contact you with more details. 

Through a grant this year from the State Trustees (Izvonot) we fund 30 children in elementary schools in RBS and BS to receive remedial or emotional therapy. 

We held our first overseas fundraising event - an "Aruchat Boker Israelit" in New Jersey, USA in August.  Our hostess, D'vora Brandstetter, invited 15 friends and family to learn about the work we do here in Ramat/Beit Shemesh.  The event raised $800.00.  See information below. 

Sandy Cash Concert: Leora Lipsky (left), Sandy Cash (center) and our hostess, Heidi Bergenfeld

Sandy Cash Concert for Ligdol v'Lifroach –donated her time to help us raise much needed funds for our Therapy Assistance Program to kick start the new school year.  Thank you to Heidi and Baruch Bergenfeld for hosting the concert in their home.  We raised 5000 shekels to help subsidize over 30 children a month.

Afternoon chugim for special needs children is a project we plan to establish.  It will provide special needs children (e.g. children with Down syndrome or autistic spectrum disorders) the opportunity to enjoy and experience fun activities just like their siblings but within their limitations.  The program would be run once a week staffed by volunteers with full training provided. There is no registration yet but we would be pleased to receive inquiries from parents and names of volunteers.

HELP US "ligdol v'lifroach"
SAVE THE DATE: 6 November 2009 -
The Beit Shemesh 5K Community Walk/ Run – this year will be proudly supporting Ligdol V'Lifroach.
Learn more and register on line – www.bsrunningclub.com
Arrange corporate or family sponsorship: jay@mercazrakefet.org

Are you going overseas?  Take us with you - "Aruchat Boker Israelit" is a new fundraising initiative because there are hundreds of children like Yosef (featured in the story above) who are waiting for your help. We have the solutions - the only thing lacking is financial support.

On your next visit overseas, please ask a friend or relative to host a gathering in their regular shiur group, book club, mothers group, play group. Israel is always close to people's hearts – why not suggest they give to an organization close to yours.  We will provide a full kit of instructions and a power point presentation to introduce our organization and ask for a minimum donation of $36.00.  Be our representative – share your LVL experience and explain what it would be like for you and your child without our help.

We're ready when you are – contact Emma Link to discuss this further.

Sponsor a seminar – for the last 18 months we have run community education workshops on the topic of "Coping with children with learning disabilities in their home, school and social environment".  Funding for this program has finished but we feel we have just begun.  We reached hundreds of people in Ramat/Beit Shemesh and recognize our influence on raising their awareness on child development issues.  

Consider dedicating a seminar in honor or in memory of someone close to you and have a positive influence on the lives of those in your community.

Eva and Daniel Field donated toys from the children of Conejo Jewish Day School, Los Angeles, USA.

VISITORS TO LVL

June - Chaim Wizman - Beit Shemesh Running Club and Jacky Edry, Dov Lipman and Elke Kagan – representatives of the Beit Shemesh Municipality.
Fagie Benstein – retired Campaign Director of the Toledo Jewish Federation.

July - Reuven Cohen – member of the Beit Shemesh Municipality, Health portfolio
Otniel Galili – principal of Adayahu Elementary School, Beit Shemesh.
Eva and Daniel Field - donated toys from the children of Conejo Jewish Day School, Los Angeles, USA.

HOW TO DONATE

In Israel: To contribute to LVL – a tax deductible organization (Tax ID no. 580436863) send checks made out to “Ligdol V’Lifroach Child and Family Services”, Sderot Tzeelim 6, Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Or by credit card by calling our Center on 02-9920497 to give your details. 

In the USA: US Tax deductible contributions of at least $25.00 may be sent (and must be made payable) to PEF Israel Endowment Fund, Inc, 317 Madison Avenue, Suite 607, New York, NY 10017 with a note clearly stating that it benefit Ligdol v'Lifroach Child and Family Services.