Last update: 30.08.2010  

Ongoing research conducted over the past five years by the Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma examined the effects of the ongoing security situation in Sderot. The research reveals that as the security situation worsens, coping becomes more difficult, contradicting the general belief that people become accustomed to life under threat. In addition, it found a clear correlation between the presence of pressure and anxiety in parents and their children’s distress levels. The parent-child relationship is the central influence in building personal resilience, self-confidence, and familial trust for young children. 
“Parents’ Place” was created to provide assistance for parents in Sderot coping with the pressure of the security situation. In the framework of the program, workshops are conducted for parents and toddlers ages 2-3 in partnership with day care centers in Sderot. The workshops include music, movement, drawing, and drama sessions etc. In addition, lectures are held for parents on various issues relevant to coping with the security situation. Parents are also given the option to receive developmental counseling and personal counseling for dealing with issues in stressful and emergency situations. In the future, the program plans to create support groups for parents.
The program is lead by the Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma in partnership with the Center for Early Childhood in Sderot.

Gvanim thanks its partners: The Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma, the Municipality of Sderot, the Sderot Resilience Center, the Sderot Community Center and Day Care Centers, and the Community Psychological Services in Shaar Hanegev.