The Orr Shalom Graduate Program – Strengthening Psychological Resilience for Out of Home Placed Teenagers Transitioning to Adulthood

Orr Shalom cares for 1,300 children, teens and young adults placed in out-of-home care by the Welfare Ministry. Approximately 60 young adults graduate from Orr Shalom’s care each year at age 18. Orr Shalom has developed a specialized program for our pre-graduates and graduates ages 16-26.

For young adults in out-of-home care, the transition to independent living as they age-out of their structured and protected placements is an immense challenge as they are forced to take on great responsibility with no familial support.

Psychological resilience is defined as a person’s ability to develop in an adaptive fashion and to function well despite the crises and distress that he has endured. Studies show that significant cognitive and emotional preparation together with information and skill strengthening reinforces resilience in young adults.

For over five years Orr Shalom has been running a program to prepare adolescents in this transition to independent living. This program works on strengthening resilience and is operated by the professionals in the lives of these adolescents together with graduate coordinators. This program was developed as a collaboration between academics, experts in learning development and Orr Shalom and has proven effective.

The workshop will:

1. Acquaint the participants with various components of resilience and how they influence the transition to independence.
2. Review the development of Orr Shalom’s preparatory program, present its various elements and their impact.

Integrate theory and practice and relate to the academic study conducted on the program, the program’s staff and the participants` experience