Fieldwork
What began as a need has evolved into hands-on action, meaningful training, and a foundation for long-term change
Israeli society is facing a sharp increase in the number of individuals in need of support and a caring presence, as well as a rise in those at risk of developing mental health conditions. This is a result of ongoing exposure to trauma, loss, displacement, and economic hardship—realities that have become even more pressing since the October 7th, 2023 disaster and the Iron Swords War.
What Can Be Done?
Training active citizens in psycho-social knowledge and support skills can strengthen the mentor’s own personal resilience—and, in turn, their natural ability to stand by others and support them.
Such a program also creates meaningful oppurtunities for engagement, both through structured activities and by fostering a supportive human presence in everyday life.
How Does It Work in Practice?
The “Community Mentors” program adds meaningful human resources to the education, welfare, and mental health systems by training and integrating citizens who undergo structured professional training. These individuals become ambassadors of psycho-social knowledge and resilience-building skills.
People Supporting People – in a Meaningful Community Role
The mentors join welfare and/or mental health frameworks as individual or group support companions, offering information, guidance, and emotional assistance. They accompany service users aged 16 and above who are dealing with life challenges, through direct dialogue and a defined set of supportive actions.
The close, personal connection between the mentors and the people they support also allows for the early identification of conditions that require referral to professional services. In this way, the mentors also act as gatekeepers, helping detect early signs of risk or emerging mental health issues.
Community Mentors: Key Components
Training
Psycho-social education combining theoretical knowledge with practical tools for meaningful interpersonal connection.
Fieldwork
Weekly engagement in diverse community settings throughout the year, totaling approximately 100 hours per Community Mentor.
Professional Coordination
A dedicated coordinator is responsible for field placement, ongoing guidance for mentors, and communication and working relations among all stakeholders.
Unique Reporting System
A designated digital platform for reporting fieldwork, enabling oversight, learning, and continuous improvement.
Independent Evaluation and Assessment
Ongoing evaluation, assessment, and research processes, with independent evaluation and measurement conducted by an external body.
Training and Fieldwork Structure
Mentors participate in a 50-hour training program focused on key psycho-social challenges within Israeli society.
The training includes both theoretical and practical components:
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The theoretical part covers foundational issues in Israeli society.
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The practical part focuses on developing interpersonal skills and tools for supportive engagement with service users.
Throughout the year, participants also practice resilience-building skills using a specialized training tool—"Finding the Tools"—developed in collaboration with Reichman University and tailored specifically for this program.
Where Is the Program Active?
The pilot program is taking place during the 2024–2025 academic year at three academic institutions across Israel: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Sapir Academic College and Tel Hai Academic College. In 2025-2026 the program will extend to several additional institutions.
Approximately 200 mentors are already participating in the program during the 2024–2025 academic year. They are placed in about 40 field sites and provide meaningful human support to roughly 1,000 service users—both individually and in groups—from the North to the South of Israel.
Each participating institution is supported by a dedicated institutional coordinator, who plays a central role in ensuring the success of the field placement. The coordinator is responsible not only for matching participants with suitable placements, but also for providing ongoing professional guidance throughout the year, maintaining regular communication with field site staff, and serving as a key liaison between the academic institution and the field. This ensures that both the mentors and the service users receive the support they need, and that the learning goals of the program are fully met.
Community Mentors – for a stronger and more resilient community
עוטף לב׳ - סיוע נפשי ישראלי, מבית החמ״ל האזרחי הוא מערך שהוקם בעקבות אירועי ה-7 באוקטובר על מנת לסייע בתחומי בריאות הנפש לכלל תושבי ישראל.
אנחנו מתמחים בסיוע לכל תושבי הארץ, כולל סיוע במציאת מענים ספציפיים לאותם עשרות אלפי התושבים שנאלצו להתפנות מבתיהם ושוהים בריכוזי מפונים או במסגרות דיור אחרות (מפונים ומתפנים).