OHEL CHILDREN'S HOME AND FAMILY SERVICES was established in 1969 to provide homes and families for abandoned, neglected, abused and disabled Jewish children. Today, through a variety of programs, OHEL cares thousands of people at every stage of life. With nearly 100 residences, apartments, and programs located throughout New York City and surrounding areas, OHEL serves the entire Jewish community.
BAIS EZRA, which translated from Hebrew means 'house of help' is OHEL's division providing services and care to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Bais Ezra serves more than 1,000 individuals living at home with their families or in residential settings. People of all ages with mental retardation, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism and neurological impairments are served. Independence, individualization, community integration and productivity play an integral role in helping each person reach his or her potential.
THE ROSE & MAURICE HALPERN LIFETIME CARE FOUNDATION FOR THE JEWISH DISABLED AT OHEL ensures that a person with mental illness or developmental disabilities will receive high quality care and services beyond the lifetime of his or her parents with guardianship, advocacy, case management, and supplemental needs trusts.
Over one thousand full and part-time employees staff OHEL Bais Ezra and Lifetime Care Foundation programs, and professionals include psychiatrists, psychologists, certified social workers, nurses, and counselors. OHEL maintains a volunteer base of more than 800 teen-age, adult and senior volunteers. They serve as tutors, respite workers, escorts, vocational trainers, mentors and classroom aides.
OHEL is proud of its well-established reputation for services to the Jewish community and involvement in some of the most challenging areas of caring for those at risk. Our guiding principles are to treat people with respect and the preservation of families. OHEL responds professionally and is expanding to offer services, training and consultation to Jewish families and health care professionals throughout North America and abroad.
Living with mental illness can be devastating for individuals and their families. OHEL's Mental Health Services are devoted to serving the residential and outpatient psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation needs of adolescents and adults with psychiatric disabilities. The goals of the residential programs are to reduce the frequency of hospitalization and to help participants live as independently as possible as integrated members of the community. This is accomplished by educating participants about mental illness and guiding them through various levels of rehabilitation, from a full-time Residential Program to a flexible Day Program.
Residential and day habilitation services for people with developmental disabilities, as well as comprehensive outpatient programs including respite, in-home services and family support.
Helping families with long-term care needs for their loved ones with disabilities.
Assistance is provided in housing options, government services, referrals to elder care attorneys, physicians, mental health professionals home care and related service. Further assistance is provided to create a day structure program or day treatment program and serves as a liaison between family and care providers to ensure that the individual receives the highest level of care. Frequent home visits establish a trusting relationship and create goals to ensure the highest level of functioning. Provides fee for service case management care to Holocaust Survivors. Also serves the general elderly population and specialists provide services to Holocaust Survivors.
OHEL provides outpatient psychological and psychiatric evaluations and treatment for children, adolescents, adults, families, and survivors of the Holocaust on a variety of mental health issues. Treatment is also available for homebound individuals with physical or emotional disabilities.
A program providing education, training, mentoring and consultation to schools and communities. Professionals are also available to provide crisis intervention, trauma and grief counseling, workshops, as well as evaluations of children with behavioral and/or learning problems. The goal of these services is to enhance the social and emotional function of children and adolescents and the prevention and treatment of at-risk behavior.
This is a comprehensive program for families in need of crisis intervention and counseling. Families served in the Preventive Care Program are often multi-stressed and have difficulty coping. Treatment is family-focused and community-based. The goal of the program is to prevent abuse and neglect by providing families with skills to improve and maintain positive family relationships.
This program provides the stability of a caring family for Jewish children whose parents are unable to care for them or who are removed from their parents' home due to conditions of abuse or neglect. The program provides training and counseling to both birth and foster parents to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. The ultimate goal is for the child's reunification with his or her biological family, whenever possible. This program was recently cited for the second consecutive year as the number one foster care agency in the City of New York.
A program providing counseling and housing for abused women and their children as well as counseling for abusive husbands. These services are provided in a safe and confidential setting. The program is dedicated to promoting the safety and well-being of women and children who are subjected to all forms of abuse. Dedicated to preserving marriages whenever possible and providing counseling both spouses (should the situation warrant it), the program is staffed by professionals who are sensitive to the cultural values of the Jewish family.
Specially trained professionals provide confidential treatment for drug, alcohol, eating disorders, gambling, and other addictions to help them address the underlying reasons that compel them to seek out these types of behaviors. The goal is to rehabilitate individuals so they can lead meaningful and productive lives.
OHEL Bais Ezra camp programs are committed to providing children and teenagers with special needs the opportunity to enjoy a meaningful and fun-filled summer experience. Campers participate in a full range of recreational activities including sports, swimming, arts and crafts, concerts, trips, and special events. Trained staff create environments which nurture relationships and foster friendships. Our supportive environment and individualized attention encourages both growth and independence. A wide range of camping programs are available in upstate New York, the Poconos, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and New Jersey. Whether in an integrated setting or an end-of-summer camp, OHEL Bais Ezra participants enjoy a fun summer experience that leaves them looking forward to the next summer!
A confidential helpline offering assistance on such issues as mental illness, school-based problems, geriatric mental health, developmental disabilities, addictions, family issues, domestic abuse, and eating disorders. Trained experts in each particular area of interest staff the Helpline.
The Simcha Program at OHEL is working to help individuals with disabilities develop dating skills so that they can date for the potential of marriage. This program helps its participants learn to be more positive and hopeful about dating opportunities. A date coach helps each individual prepare for dates in whatever way they need. After the date, the coach is available to help them throughout the continuation of the relationship or to help them deal with rejection. If a couple decides to take their relationship to the next level and get married, OHEL assists the couple through this process as well.
Comprehensive services address the trauma of sexual abuses to aid victims/survivors, their families and their communities. OHEL recognizes the need for intervention on the individual, family, organizational and community level and has developed programs of prevention, intervention and risk management. Consultations and workshops are available to schools and communities throughout New York, New Jersey, and in cities throughout the United States. Educating our children and our community about personal safety is the key to prevention of sexual abuse.
Often adults with mental illness are reluctant to use existing community resources to socialize; they want to blend into the mainstream community but lack self-confidence and social skills. Kadimah is a beautiful environment for adults with mental illness to socialize, work, study or have lunch with friends. A familiar environment and an assortment of activities lessen feelings of isolation while peers with similar backgrounds are there to offer support.
This service provides in-home crisis assessment and referrals to individuals and families experiencing psychiatric, psychological, or behavioral crises. The team arrives in an unmarked vehicle within 24 to 72 hours from the client's call and is available to meet with people in their home, office, or at other convenient locations.
OHEL offers a program offering pre-employment counseling, job preparation and placement, and job coaching for people with psychiatric and developmental disabilities who are ready to enter the workforce. This program helps guide participants as they begin to explore more challenging undertakings.
Provides clinical and managerial seminars on a variety of issues to mental health, education and social services professionals in the Jewish community. The seminars and workshops offer practical solutions and problem solving approaches, addressing a broad range of current issues. The Institute helps build the skills of professionals serving the Jewish community, ensuring that they can continue to best meet the needs of those whom they counsel.
OHEL counseling services are available to children, adolescents, adults, and couples in communities throughout the United States, including Florida and New Jersey. Consultations on a variety of issues also take place regularly in communities ranging from Los Angeles, Chicago, Milwaukee, Baltimore to B'nei Brak and Jerusalem, Israel.
Volunteers and paid mentors are welcome to work with children, adults and families in our various programs. Volunteers serve as Big Brothers or Sisters, escort an individual or can just be a friend.
