Gvanim Ashkelon Center - Overview

In recent years, Israel’s rehabilitative services for people with mental illness have included integration into the normative community.  Studies show that this approach improves the quality of their life, reduces hospitalizations and enables program participants to develop themselves. 

In 2001, Gvanim was contacted by 70 people with emotional disabilities who had no supportive frameworks available, and in response the Association began to establish services for the emotionally disabled in Ashkelon.  One year later, Gvanim launched similar services in Kiryat Malachi.  Today Gvanim’s programs support 300 adults suffering from mental illness, mostly in Gvanim Ashkelon Center, which oversees programs in Kiryat Malachi, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat and the surrounding areas. 

The principles guiding the Gvanim Ashkelon Center include: community involvement is a central part of all rehabilitative processes; all services will be adapted to meet the specific needs of each participant; participants who work will be paid for their efforts.  Products created in protected workshops are of a high quality and are marketed and sold through out Israel by Home Center, in its internet store “Keliim Shluvim.”

Since the first program was established in 2001, more than 10 more programs have been started to provide a network of services for the mentally ill.  These include Protected Housing in Ashkelon, Occupation and Creative Framework in Ashkelon, Mentoring and Training in Ashkelon and Kiryat Malachi and Occupational Framework in Kiryat Malachi.  The program is under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.