Israeli Mentorship Program Provides Long-Term Support for At-Risk Children
A unique mentorship program in Israel, known as Youth Futures, is gaining international attention for its innovative approach to supporting at-risk children. The program operates in approximately 60 local authorities across Israel and involves 400 specially trained personnel, referred to as Mentors, who provide continuous support to children for three consecutive years. These Mentors build personalized support networks around each child, maintaining ongoing relationships with parents, teachers, social workers, therapists, and other significant adults in the child's life. The goal is to create a coordinated, continuous support system that enables children to thrive and prevents further deterioration. The program is based on the understanding that risk does not begin only after every system has failed a child but starts much earlier when a child begins losing their sense of belonging, security, or belief in themselves. 
