Dr. Tal Arazi

The objectives were: To develop and implement tools that enable ongoing monitoring of the children’s and youth’s characteristics, needs, strengths, and previous interventions, as well as the extent to which outcomes are achieved for them. Subsequently, to conduct a pilot study to examine the extent to which the tools developed serve their intended purpose before they become routine measurement tools.

The objectives: of this study was: 1. To develop a dedicated tool for assessing the quality of all the services that children receive in residential care facilities (the intervention) and their outcomes, through self-reports by the children and their parents. 2. To assess children's needs across seven life domains (behavioral, emotional-mental, social, family, educational-academic-vocational, physical-health, and exposure to harm outside the family); to monitor the services and intervention methods that children receive in residential care facilities; to assess their quality; and to examine the extent to which the desired outcomes are achieved.

As part of the system’s development and validation process, this initiative sought to collect baseline information on the characteristics and needs of the children in residential care facilities, significant life events they had experienced, prior interventions, their strengths, and the extent to which desired outcomes were achieved.

The objectives of the pilot were: To examine the feasibility of implementing the shared indicators approach in settings and services for children at risk; To develop tools for ongoing measurement planning in External Emergency Centers (EECs) [1], after-school programs for children at risk (Moadoniot), and family strengthening centers (Hacham Centers); To collect information on the characteristics, strengths, needs, and intervention strategies related to a sample of children and their families in ECCs, Moadoniot, and Hacham Centers

The main purpose of the study was to reflect to the committee members the experiences and attitudes of past and present service recipients regarding the interventions made on their behalf under the Youth Law, with an emphasis on critical decisions made during their treatment and meetings with treatment professionals operating within the framework of the law. The logic underlying this process was rooted in the perception that the knowledge available to service recipients is unique and valuable, is difficult to extract in other ways, and is directly related to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 12 – The Right of the Child to Participate). The study is in line with this principle and seeks to ensure that the procedures for reviewing the law and the recommendations regarding it consider the voices and experiences of those whose lives and fates are directly affected by it.

The objective of the study was to identify and map the barriers and challenges faced by municipal coordinators. This effort is part of the structured development of the Israel Authority for Prevention of Violence, Alcohol and Drug Abuse activities and stems from the understanding that the complexity of this work requires comprehensive and in-depth planning of its programs and of the methods used to evaluate their outcomes.

The model intends to map how the centers operate to strengthen personal, family, and community resilience in areas exposed to ongoing security threats. It includes a characterization of the target population, their needs and strengths, a definition of the desired outcomes, and a description of the core outputs (strategies and interventions) to be used in achieving them.

About a month after the outbreak of the war, the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs (hereinafter: the Ministry of Welfare or the Ministry) decided to initiate a rapid assessment process to arrive at interim conclusions regarding the performance of the Ministry and of the social welfare services during the war. The goal was to identify barriers to optimal service delivery, remove obstacles faced by employees in fulfilling their functions, and improve the quality of their work.

The objective of the study was to assist LOMO in constructing a computerized system for ongoing measurement of outcomes and case management in order to improve the program's operations and evaluate the program’s effectiveness.

The objectives of the survey are to provide an up-to-date report about the extent of domestic violence against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas War, and about the unique risk factors associated with the current crisis. The survey findings can later be used to identify population groups at increased risk, and to provide suitable interventions.

The Myers-JDC-Brookdale Outcomes Team has been commissioned by the Out-of-Home Care, Family, Children, Youth and Special Placement Division of the Ministry of Welfare to help develop tools for the residential care facilities under its supervision: tools for assessing the child’s situation, formulating individual programs, monitoring interventions, and measuring the degree to which the desirable outcomes have been achieved – all within the ministry’s computerized client file (CCF) system. The team has also been commissioned to help structure outputs and dedicated reports within the CCF system, to be used in the ongoing operations of all employees and managers in residential care facilities, their supervisors, and ministry staff. This presentation presents the process of planning and specifying the tools within the CCF system.

The Myers-JDC-Brookdale Outcomes Team has been commissioned by the Out-of-Home Care, Family, Children, Youth and Special Placement Division of the Ministry of Welfare to help develop tools for conducting evaluations and planning interventions for children, Monitoring the outputs and the achievement of outcomes; Conducting a measurement pilot to examine the degree to which the tools developed serve their purpose, before their implementation on a regular basis ;and Supporting the implementation of outcome-based thinking in the unit’s routing operations.

The Social Inclusion Team at the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute is currently evaluating the Chanoch LaNa'ar program, and the Institute’s Outcomes Team was asked to design logic models for the program. The logic model is a key tool in outcomes thinking, which seeks to trace change theory and help in developing measurement systems, analyzing data and in learning about the program. The model gives a graphic presentation of the program’s main components – characteristics, needs, inputs, outputs, and outcomes – and illustrates their connections visually. It is a widely used tool for planning, conceptualization, and tracking changes.

This manual is designed to help professionals in local authorities to refine their planning, measurement and lesson-learning processes from a broad, cross-municipal perspective and as part of the program’s routine operations. The manual is based on a planning process informed by the logic model and by the principles of outcome-based thinking, articulating the aim of implementing the principles of outcome-based thinking as an organizing framework for 360°.

On October 7, 2023, the Hamas terrorist organization launched a surprise attack on the communities bordering on the Gaza Strip that led Israel to declare war on Hamas. Immediately after the outbreak of the war, the Out-of-Home Care, Family, Children, Youth and Special Placement Division of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs began assessing the needs of the residential facilities under its responsibility. A month after the outbreak of the war, the Ministry decided to examine the status of the adolescents in these facilities with the residents themselves, to assess their unique needs in light of the terror attack and ongoing hostilities, as well as to convey a message of caring and partnership by professionals and administrators in the residential facilities and the Ministry. Therefore, the Ministry commissioned the Myers-Joint-Brookdale Institute to conduct a survey of all adolescents in residential care facilities supervised by the Ministry.

This review was written to provide stakeholders with an up-to-date status report, in real time, on children and youth during the war and the risks they face in all aspects of their lives. Apart from children who were directly exposed to the war or have been evacuated from their homes, the focus of the document is on the effects on all children and youth in Israel, whatever their proximity to the events.

The goal of this review was to explore the knowledge from other countries on best practices in interventions in residential care for Youth at Severe Risk, with the view of assisting the Welfare Ministry in promoting the reform in the Out-of-Home Special Placements Division, as part of the improvement of services and policy in residential care in general, and in the MAOZ model, in particular.

In light of the current situation, the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute developed a questionnaire of critical needs of children and youth. The indicators included in this questionnaire are based on current knowledge on the effects of emergencies, crises, and unusual situations on children and youth and the purpose of the questionnaire is to highlight the characteristics, needs, and strengths that should be considered in these situations.

This manual is the product of a joint initiative by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Outcomes Team and 360° - The National Program for Children and Youth at Risk. It is intended to help communities reorganize during and after the crisis based on the principles of outcome thinking that form the basis of 360° and which have been adapted to emergency and crisis situations. At the end of the manual are four appendices that will help in its implementation.

The objectives of this review are to: Establish the theoretical basis for the Strengths Section in TAMI ; Optimize and update the Strengths Section in TAMI so it will be aligned with the most recent approaches regarding the measurement and evaluation of strengths among children and youth ; Promote the application of the strengths perspective in the program based on best practices identified.

The Division of Research, Planning and Training at the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs and the Authority contacted the Outcomes Team at the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, to develop a computerized system for the Authority in order to design the intervention plan and to measure its outcomes on an ongoing basis, based on the principles of the outcome-oriented thinking. This report addresses the first stage of the process, including: mapping the characteristics, needs, and strengths of the individuals in the Authority’s facilities, and assessing the suitability of the questionnaire developed for ongoing use.

The objectives of this research were to help Lawyer of My Own (LOMO) develop tools for (1) collecting information on the needs, characteristics, prior interventions, and strengths of the minor service recipients; (2) planning the representation by the lawyers; (3) Monitoring outputs and achieving the representation objectives. These tools will also be used by the LOMO administration to formulate a policy and doctrine. Conduct a pilot to measure the degree to which the tools developed serve their purpose, prior to their implementation as tools for ongoing measurement.

The National Program made the following requests to the Outcomes Team at the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute: To assist the National Program in developing tools to accomplish the following: (a) Evaluation and intervention planning for the centers’ clients; monitoring of the Program’s outputs (activities and strategies included in the Program); and measuring the achievement of goals; (b) monitoring of the characteristics, needs, strengths and previous interventions of the centers’ clients. The tools will serve as the foundation for building a computerized system to be used by the social workers in the field in order to plan interventions, document the course of treatment and measure the outcomes of other long-term programs that operate within the framework of the National Program. In addition, the tools will assist the headquarters staff in deciding on policy and work methods. To carry out a pilot measurement study to determine the extent to which the tools indeed achieve their goals, prior to their being put into regular use as measurement tools, as well as gathering preliminary information on the clients’ characteristics, needs, previous interventions, and strengths and the degree to which results were achieved.

The goals of this study were: (1) to examine to what extent the Police Social Worker Program achieved the desired outcomes at the organizational level and to what extent organizational practices conducive to the ongoing work of the police social workers were applied – this, by developing a tool for organizational outcomes measurement; (2) to conduct a pilot to examine whether the developed tool served its end, prior to its use as an ongoing outcomes measurement tool.

The goal of the survey presented in this report was to examine the work interfaces between the child protection officers and the lawyers assigned to LOMO (hereinafter: the lawyers) as follows: To examine the attitudes of the child protection officers about child participation and the work done by LOMO; To examine the work practices of the child protection officers vis-à-vis the lawyers and their perceptions regarding their work interfaces with the lawyers.

The objectives of this research were: 1. Conduct in-depth analyses of the domestic violence phenomenon among specific population groups: Arabs, new immigrants, LGBTQs, and people with disabilities 2. Conduct advanced statistical analysis for an in-depth examination of the correlations between various types of domestic violence and their risk factors.

The goal of the data collection project was to map the needs, barriers, and challenges in the various systems dealing with domestic violence at the various stages of the cycle of violence. The mapping was designed to serve as a basis for improving existing services and developing new technological solutions for preventing risk and emergency situations, increasing public awareness of such situations, and providing an optimal response to the victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.

The goals of the research were : 1. Help the National Program management develop tools to enable (1) Ongoing follow-up on characteristics, needs, previous interventions and strengths of the Program clients; (2) Monitoring of the Program’s outputs and goal attainment; (3) Gathering of preliminary information about the Program clients. 2. Conduct an evaluation pilot to assess the degree to which the tools developed serve their purpose, prior to their implementation for ongoing evaluation.

The objective of the research was to: Help the National Program staff in developing tools that would enable ongoing monitoring of (a) the characteristics, needs, previous interventions, and strengths and resources of the clients in the PSW Program; and (b) the PSW Program’s outputs and outcomes. These in turn will be entered into a computerized system for continuous measurements of other short-term programs under the National Program. Conduct a measurement pilot to evaluate the adequacy of the tools developed for continuous measurement, prior to their implementation.

This report reviews theoretical and research aspects of the non-take-up of rights, as well as aspects that may help MOLSA to formulate policy that is in keeping with current trends in this area, such as taking up rights by digital means and the incorporation of volunteers in centers for the take-up of rights.

In March 2020, with the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Israel along with many other countries, issued directives and imposed compulsory restrictions on the public, including the order to remain at home and the closure of workplaces. This challenging situation exacerbated the plight of victims of domestic violence. Moreover, the number of victims was […]

This report reviews the directives issued by the government departments responsible for social services in the United Kingdom and United States, and NGOs caring for children in out-of-home placements in selected states in the US.

Citing suggestion: Arazi, T., & Kahan-Strawczynski, R. (2018). Integrating Bedouin into Higher Education – An Evaluation of the Gateway to Academia Pilot at Sapir College. RR-788-18. Myers-JDC Brookdale Institute. (Hebrew)  

The report summarizes the development process and findings of a pilot measuring the outcomes of group therapy among sex offenders at the Adult Probation Service (APS).

Israel’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA), with the assistance of the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute (MJB), has been advancing measures to establish and routinize outcome thinking (OT) in all ministry units and auxiliaries. The procedure consists of developing supportive infrastructures and tools, including computerized data-management systems. At the level of fieldworkers, the systems help construct […]

This report collates the main findings of a pilot measuring the outcomes of a group-therapy program for sexually-abusive boys. The pilot was conducted in the framework of the Outcomes Initiative led and funded by the Research, Planning and Training Division of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA) in cooperation with the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute […]

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA) strives to develop and implement computerized information management systems. Such systems may include tools for information-management relating to clients, to interventions and their outcomes; and quality assurance. The purpose of these systems is to serve staff at all levels, from top management to front-line staff. The Unit […]

In May 2015 the MeHalev Initiative was launched under the auspices of the Haruv Institute. It was designed to promote activities for the prevention and reduction of child maltreatment in Israel. As part of the Initiative, the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute was asked to develop an inclusive national index to measure the extent of the problem. In this report, we present the process of developing the index, the guiding principles, and the recommendation for implementation.