Social Inclusion

In recent years, the Israeli government has resolved to address complex social problems such as poverty, crime, domestic violence, and social exclusion of minority populations through legislation and comprehensive national programs. The Social Inclusion Team at the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute supports these government and civil society efforts through research and data to promote the social inclusion of populations living in poverty, socially disadvantaged populations, and minority groups. The team also works to reduce the risk of minority populations of low socio-economic status or those facing stigmatization and discrimination.

2023 Research Themes

Reducing Poverty and its Effects
Socially Vulnerable Populations
Support for Youth and Young Adults at Risk
Social Inclusion of Minority Groups

2023 Research Themes

Reducing Poverty and its Effects

Socially Vulnerable Populations

Support for Youth and Young Adults at Risk

Social Inclusion of Minority Groups

Research Staff

Aluma Levi-Zohar

Research Analyst

Dana Brender

Research associate

Dr. Amir Falk

Researcher

Dr. Dori Rivkin

Senior Research Scholar and Team Leader

Dr. Yael Litmanovitz

Researcher

Dr. Yonit Jacobovitz

Family Group Leader

Emilia Kapranov

Research associate

Helen Mishael

Coordinator

Irit Aizik

Research scholar

Zohar Or Sharvit

Research associate

Recent Publications

Breaking the Cycle: A Pilot Program for the Release of Minors from Detention and Imprisonment – A Formative Evaluation Study

Emilia Kapranov, Irit Aizik

2023

In February 2021, the Ministry of Justice commissioned the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute to conduct a formative evaluation study of the pilot program for the release of minors from detention and imprisonment. The study examined the following issues: the implementation of the program and the identification of factors that contributed to its implementation as well as factors that called for improvement; the collaboration between the parties involved in the program; the factors that promoted the program success and the factors that hindered success; the changes in work practices in the course of the program; the importance of human capital for the program, with the focus on the role of the program manager.

School Dropout in the Bedouin Population in the Negev

Ruth Baruj-Kovarsky, Anat Gilad, Lilach Zohar, Dr. Viacheslav Konstantinov, Brachi Ben Simon, Irit Aizik, Dr. Lia Moran-Gilad

2022

The goals of the study were: To present an up-to-date picture of the phenomenon of school dropout in the Bedouin population in the Negev and its scope; To examine the needs, barriers, and challenges in coping with the phenomenon of school dropout, as perceived by officials, key entities, and leading professionals from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, and the Bedouin local authorities in the Negev who deal with the issue of school dropout; To develop strategies to deal with the phenomenon of school dropout in the Bedouin population in the Negev.

The Negev Bedouin Population and its Leaders – Values, Strengths, and Challenges

Zohar Or Sharvit, Irit Aizik, Emilia Kapranov, Dr. Amir Falk, Dr. Dori Rivkin

2022

The goals of this study are: 1.To understand the values of the Negev Bedouin, their priorities, the characteristics of their community resilience, and their attitudes towards the local authority and the state. 2.To examine differences in values, strengths, and challenges between different groups within the Bedouin population so as to suit specific programs to each of the groups. 3. To understand the perceptions of the local Bedouin leadership regarding the unique values and needs of the population and the way in which these needs are met by the services and programs developed for this population. 4. To identify challenges in the implementation of plans to promote the socio-economic development of the Negev Bedouin, such as the five-year plan, and to make recommendations for their optimal implementation.

Reducing Socio-Economic Gaps Between Traditional-Tribal Minority Populations and Majority Population Groups: An International Review

Zohar Or Sharvit, Irit Aizik

2022

The goals of this review were: (1) to learn from the experience of other countries about the strategies adopted and the ways of coping with the barriers involved in the implementation of plans for reducing socio-economic gaps between traditional-tribal minority populations with characteristics similar to those of the Bedouin population in the Negev and the general population in their countries of residence; (2) to map the best practices (including the tools and actions) employed by various countries in line with the unique culture and values of the traditional-tribal minority populations to assist headquarters officials and field personnel in the implementation of policy for reducing socio-economic gaps. The review is intended to serve as a basis for improving the development and provision of services for the Bedouin population in the Negev in view of its unique characteristics, its needs, and the barriers and challenges that it faces.

All Publications - Social Inclusion