Confronting the Growing Problem of Youth at Risk in the Orthodox

Community

Presentation to AJFCANew York City

Sunday April 15, 2007

Zina Freundlich, Assistant Vice President, FEGS

Jonas Waizer PhD, Chief Operating Officer, FEGS

Orthodox Jewish Kids-at-Risk

• Problems

• Strategies

• Programs

What are the Problems Among Adolescents

in the Orthodox Jewish Community?

According to SAMHSA statistics for 2004

• “The number of adolescents (ages 12 to 17) admitted to substance abuse treatment increased 65% from 1992 to 2002.”

• The SAMSHA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2005) found that 9.9% of American adolescents ages 12-17 used illicit drugs

• Summarized in OPEN MINDS (October 2004)

The Incidence of At-risk Youth in the Orthodox Jewish Community of Brooklyn, NYReport by the Metropolitan NY Coordinating Council on Jewish

Poverty Survey to the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (Danziger, Y. 1999)

There are over 1500 identified youth in the NY Jewish Community currently engaging in at-risk behavior including substance abuse, truancy, running away from home, etc.

An additional 2500 Jewish youth in NY are estimated to engage in similar behavior, but not yet individually identified.

“Bust at NJ Party Raises Talk of Teen Substance Abuse” November 21,2004

• Forty-two (42) Yeshiva boys and girls arrested for using illegal substances at party while parents on vacation

• 27 of 42 were 14-17 years of age

• Alcohol, marijuana and “drugs”

Strategies:How Do We Deal With these

Problems in the Orthodox Jewish Community?

STRATEGIES

• Acknowledgement by Community

• Partnerships

• Choices and Leveraging

Jewish Observer – November 1999 (Prevention)

Jewish Observer – November 1999 (Prevention)

A Sample of Articles in The Jewish Observer Dealing with Orthodox Teens Abusing

Substances – November 1999

• P. 9 Thoughts of a Mother (Anonymous) (MASK)

• The TOVA Program – Adding to the Full Vessel by Dr. Norman Blumenthal

• P. 43 The “At-Risk Child”: Early Identification and Intervention

by Dr. David Pelcovits and Rabbi Shimon Russell

• An Unorthodox Approach for the Orthodox Teen by Rabbi Yitzchok Mitnick

OU Substance Abuse Resolution (Problem)Resolutions for Debate and Vote at Biannual Convention of the Orthodox Union (October

24, 2004)

“The Orthodox Jewish community is, regrettably, not immune to the danger of substance abuse.

The social and cultural norms of the society that surrounds us have, sadly enough, impacted our community.” 

OU Substance Abuse Resolution (Prevention)Resolutions for Debate and Vote at Biannual Convention of the Orthodox Union

(October 24, 2004)

“Accordingly, we resolve that: The Orthodox Union,

• Shall educate our community to the dangers and realities of substance abuse, and offer resources to parents, teachers, and community leaders in order to respond positively to this challenge….

• o       Shuls: Our synagogues are urged to openly address and educate their members regarding the many issues related to substance abuse….

• o       School: Schools in our community are urged to support, join and adopt protocols such as the “Safe Schools Tri-State Yeshiva Drug Compact,”….

• o       Homes: The Orthodox Union will continue to provide support in this area through its Positive Parenting workshops.”

Safe Schools Yeshiva Network Policy

• Communal response to growing problem of alcohol and substance abuse

• Created through the efforts of the OU, BJE, FEGS-Yatzkan Division, Yeshiva Counseling Network, and input of yeshiva principals

• Mission is to create and maintain alcohol and drug free environment within yeshivas and at all functions attended by students

• Proactive approach providing– education and prevention– Intervention and treatment

UJAF Grant to FEGS & Partners

Orthodox Jewish Girls-at-Risk

• Orthodox Union

• MASK

• NYC BJE

• Our Place: Drop-in Center

• Jewish Community Council of Crown Heights

UJAF Grant Orthodox Jewish Girls-at-Risk

• Three Years @ $75,000/year

• Established Curricula

• Recruited 5 Girls Yeshivot

• Hired Indigenous Professionals

• Partners provided access to schools

UJAF Grant Orthodox Jewish Girls-at-Risk

Curricula Choices

• Healthy Body Image (Harvard)

• SAFE Life Skills

• Bechirot

• MASK: Parenting Workshops

• BJE Teacher Training

OU Partnerships in Community Prevention

Positive Jewish Parenting: Partnerships in Community Education

Community Education and Prevention

SUBSTANCE ABUSENY COMMUNITY NETWORK

Early InterventionOU Yeshiva Drug Compact: w/BJE, FEGS, etc. UJA Orthodox Girls at risk in Brooklyn (FEGS, MASK, BJE, OU)MASK – Mothers and Fathers Aligned Saving KidsAgudah – Project Y.E.S.JACS - Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependents, and Significant

Others

TreatmentNY State Licensed Clinics: FEGS, JBFCS, JCCA, OHEL- TikvahOur Place – Drop-in CentersFEGS Yatzkan Division for Adolescent Behavioral Health and

Substance Abuse

Yatzkan Today: Treatment

FEGS Services 2007

• Four New Community Residences: Brooklyn, NY

- 2/3 Funded by NY State, and UJA Subsidized

- Glatt Kosher and Supervised• New Substance Abuse Clinic • New Pre-Vocational Skills Development• New GED Program• Partnerships with NY Community Service Agencies