There are an estimated 1.2 million Israeli children defined as 'at-risk'.
Israel has the highest poverty rate of OECD countries which impacts adversely on young parents.
This poverty rate is one of the largest gaps between rich and poor. This stark reality has led to one of Israel’s greatest social challenges being the high number of children at risk.
Incidents of child neglect, domestic violence and food insecurity are on the rise as security challenges and the war compound everyday parenting difficulties. As a result, the demand for emotional and psychological interventions among parents has risen dramatically.
Heartbeats is an intervention program providing young children and their parents with a stable framework where they can thrive. It also provides parents with tools and knowledge to be better parents. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the children in the program will require less or no intervention as they continue to develop. Identifying and addressing challenges either before children are born or at a very young age dramatically reduces the chances of developing problems later in life.
Located in 16 areas across Israel’s periphery, this unique program offers a framework for parents to receive support in the early stages of their child’s life. Keren Hayesod-UIA is committed more than ever to supporting Israel’s youngest at-risk children, aged 0-3 years.
The Need for Early Intervention
The earlier the intervention, the more successful the outcome. A child’s formative years are a critical time when they develop their cognitive, motor, language, social and emotional abilities. The Heartbeats program encourages healthy parent-child contact, strengthens parental identity and skills. It also promotes engagement with communal services, which ultimately improves their children’s development.
The program's dual intervention model provides comprehensive support for parents and child through:
Personal Home-Based Support
- Individualised Mentorship: Trained Mentors work directly with families for 18 months
- Parenting Guidance: Practical strategies tailored to each family’s unique challenges
- Resource Navigation: Ensuring families access all available community services
- Relationship Building: Strengthening secure parent-child attachment
Group-Communal Activities
- Peer Connection: Breaking isolation through supportive community networks
- Professional Workshops: Access to child development experts and resources
- Structured Play: Age-appropriate activities modelling effective engagement
The Heartbeats Program is based on the role of two mentors per community. Each mentor works with 15 families for a period of 18 months. These mentors are supervised by a national program coordinator. In addition, a team of three national Community Coordinators (one for each population sector: Arabs and Jews, including secular, religious and Ultraorthodox) focus on community outreach. The mentors also coordinate with early childhood professionals in each community, providing guidance, support and intervention to an additional 100 families per year.
The Impact of October 7 on Young Families
The impact of the war has taken a devastating toll on the mental health of all Israelis, especially those who were already most at-risk. Young families who were struggling before the war, are battling to navigate this impossibly challenging time. Even Israeli’s who were managing are now desperately needing support.
Some women are alone for months as their husbands are on reserve duty, and for others, the mother is serving in the army, leaving her family to cope without her. Children are regressing emotionally and physically. Parents have to consider things like ‘can I shower now, or will we need to run to a shelter?’. Most families are holding onto constant anxiety and death, feeling like everything is collapsing around them. One Heartbeats mother shared that she has slept in her bra for almost a year in case she has to wake in the night and run to a public shelter.
Our role is to make sure that Heartbeats is there to provide a supportive, safe place to guide and nurture these desperate families. They can feel reassured that each week they will receive a visit from their mentor and someone is just a phone call away to understand their challenges. Heartbeats is the place where families in very difficult circumstances, experiencing very complicated lives can find care, guidance, support and a much needed hug. They are able to focus on what their families need and find joy in life because Heartbeats is there to support them.
This project is in partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel, the Government of Israel and local authorities.
1,250+
families participate in Heartbeats
16
locations throughout Israel's periphery
55%
also receive welfare assistance
38%
of parents faced trauma in their own childhood