Kiryat Malachi’s Occupational Framework for Adults with Mental Illness

Our occupation is a significant part of our personal and social identity.  Among other things, it often defines our relative value, contribution and importance to society. Work is a source of satisfaction and self-worth and contributes to our feelings of belonging and quality of life.  People with emotional disabilities are often rejected from the workforce, and returning to work is a powerful tool for rehabilitation and integration into the normative community.

In recent years rehabilitative, occupational frameworks have flourished, enabling adults with mental illness to enter a variety of challenging and interesting positions.  The rehabilitative services offered by Gvanim Ashkelon in the city of Kiryat Malachi serve mentally ill adults. These services are recognized for their modern approach to rehabilitation and focus on developing business initiatives in the normative community.  The initiatives employ and train program participants while providing community services and a platform for integration between the normative and disabled communities.  Working in such an initiative enables participants to increase their income.

Available programs include:

• In the “Work Club” participants gradually learn and practice basic occupational skills.  The Club offers crafts workshops and enrichment activities.
• The “Protected Factory” has arts and crafts workshops for participants who need to acquire basic occupational skills.  As part of the program some participants contribute to  the community by working in a soup kitchen  - operated by the Meir Panim Relief Centers in Israel - which feeds needy families and local school children. 
• The “Cookie Project” was initiated by a group of women who provide refreshments for meetings and events.
• “Supported Employment” places participants in positions in the regular workforce. All mentally ill adults living in the area between Yavne and Sderot are eligible to receive these services.

The program is under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.

Gvanim thanks its Program Partners:  the Ministry of Health, the Municipality of Kiryat Malachi, Meir Panim Relief Centers in Israel, the National Insurance Institute