A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR MENTALLY CHALLENGED PERSONS

A “Supportive Environment” for mentally challenged persons in a new program aimed at enabling an improved integration of these people into society.
A “Supportive Environment” is run by the Cochav Hatzafon Association in the Western Galilee region. People receiving services provided by this project are people with intellectual disabilities who are adults living at home independently or with elderly parents.
The aim of the “Supportive Environment” project is access to community services by integrating them in the best possible way to life in the community (family, moshav, local authority, etc.).  Emphasis is placed on using existing and new communal resources for the benefit of those receiving services (i.e. volunteers, neighbors and family help, exercising rights vis-à-vis the authorities, integrating into leisure activities organized by the local authority, etc.).
The “Supportive Environment” is a model that has been activated until now for senior citizens and the disabled.  Implementing this model for intellectually disabled persons is innovative and the Western Galilee region is one of the first of its kind in Israel providing these services to this population.
The program is coordinated by a social worker from the association who arrives for visits to houses of members quite regularly and devises a suitable personal program for each and every one of the members.  This is performed in cooperation with welfare elements and others.  It is the responsibility of the project coordinator to activate an additional team if deemed necessary.

Receiving “Supportive Environment” Services:
Participation in the project does not involve a personal charge to participants.  The criteria for acceptance of new members in the projects are:
*  Adults over the age of 18 years.
*  A valid diagnosis as a mentally challenged person.
*  Living independently in the community (not at an institution), or residing with elderly parents.
*  Referred to the project by the social services department.
The referral for participation in the project is made by the social services department of the local authority.