As students and faculty return for another school year, OHEL’s school-based service program resumes in four local schools for the fourth consecutive year. This year, once again social workers will be working closely with the guidance team and support services of Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls, YBH of Passaic, Yeshivat He’Atid and Yeshivat Noam. The program is graciously funded in New Jersey by Shimmie and Alissa Horn and is officially known as the Horn Family School-Based Services Program
The program has been met with great enthusiasm by participating local schools, who, despite having their own internal support teams, have found that the additional OHEL program helps ensure an even more robust mental health offering, so that no students fall through the cracks, and can only thrive.
Between the four schools, OHEL’s SBS program sees many students a week in a one-on-one setting, while also providing a weekly workshop at YBH that focuses on teaching social skills.
Some of the many issues social workers are dealing with include anger management, anxiety, peer conflict and academic challenges. With ADHD, anxiety and diagnosed learning disabilities on the increase, OHEL is able to leverage decades of experience in student mental health.
Dina Beer and Leba Bub, both LMSW and of Passaic, are returning as the social workers who will work in the local area schools, and they are provided supervision by OHEL under the guidance of Deborah Weinstock, LCSW, also of Passaic.
OHEL’s social workers work closely with the school’s psychologist, mental health professionals and school administration to collectively strengthen and optimize mental health support services at every school.
Leba Bub said, “Because OHEL’s therapists work within the school, they are able to address these issues directly with a child’s environment, such as the teacher, school and family, to maximize success, especially for those students who would not be able to afford outside therapy.”
Rabbi Tomer Ronen, head of school of Yeshivat Atid, conveyed that “Yeshivat He’atid was fortunate to benefit from OHEL’s SBS program this past year with Leba Bub, a social worker joining our school. She provided each student with individualized attention and allowed them to grow independently both in the classroom and on a personal level.”
Dr. Rayzel Yaish commented that “Dina Beer added a richness to the offerings of our Ma’ayanot guidance department. In her first year at Ma’ayanot, drawing on her drama and art therapy background, Dina developed a weekly creative expression club using poetry, prose and scripts. Her creativity continues to attract students every Tuesday this year. One Ma’ayanot student even developed a plan with Dina to make headway towards her dream of being a motivational speaker and tested her skills at a local event towards the end of the year, all under Dina’s support and direction!”
Dr. Benoff also noted: “At YBH of Passaic, we recognize that every student is distinctive in their styles of learning, interacting and growing. We are committed to nurture each child accordingly, so that they may personally develop and accomplish to their fullest. OHEL’s school-based services program has been a tremendous asset in facilitating this mission.”
Rav Ronen added, “We thank OHEL for allowing us to reap the rewards of this wonderful program.”
If you would like to consider having school-based services be a part of your school in the future, or would like to explore other ways in which the school-based service program can assist your school, please contact Rabbi Jeremy Donath, OHEL’s northern New Jersey community coordinator at [email protected].
