Keeping at-risk children with disabilities safe

The Families in Growth program was born out of a deep understanding of the complex needs of families of young children with disabilities. The Families in Growth program meets our at-risk families where they are by offering personalized, in-home support to empower parents to provide them with the tools to cope, grow, and create a better future for their children.

Through a combination of therapeutic and practical guidance, it equips parents with tools to strengthen their caregiving abilities and build their sense of confidence. The sessions are led by trained professionals—parent coaches, emotional therapists, and healthcare staff—who help each family improve daily functioning and navigate their unique challenges. Every family also receives customized game kits and adaptive equipment to use at home.

Latest Update: A New Phase of Growth

Thanks to the program’s demonstrated success, Families in Growth launched its second cycle in May 2025. This new phase is reaching 27 more families from our eight early childhood centers.

Key milestones so far:

• All families signed a formal commitment to participate in the program.
• Each family has had at least one home visit. The initial visit consists of setting clear goals to assure committed engagement and cooperation.
• Each visit concludes with a team debrief and assessment to ensure continuity and quality.
• Each family has been assigned two staff members: an emotional therapist and a healthcare professional (based on the child’s specific needs).

Targeted Emergency Support

In addition to the standard program, we extended extra support to a particularly vulnerable family in crisis. The mother, a single parent and immigrant, is raising four children—one of whom is recovering from a kidney transplant and participates in our early childhood program. With no family network in Israel and ongoing hospital visits, she endures overwhelming burdens. In addition to the parental guidance, the project is providing her with financial assistance to meet basic needs.

Recognition and Momentum

We are proud to share that the Ministry of Health has invited Chimes Israel to present on the Families in Growth program at their Rehabilitation Day Care Center Directors Conference in mid-July. The program was selected for its innovation, measurable impact, and its potential to serve as a model for others across Israel.

Thank You

This progress would not be possible without your support. Because of you, vulnerable families with special needs children are gaining strength, skills, and hope. Together, we are proving that real, sustainable change happens not only in classrooms or clinics—but also in the heart of the home.

Thank you for standing with us and believing in the power of parents. We look forward to keeping you updated as the program continues to grow.

With gratitude, The Chimes Israel Team

Families with children with disabilities face enormous challenges daily, often under harsh conditions, and with a painful sense of loneliness. Parents of children with disabilities struggle daily to maintain their role as nurturers, providing their children with a warm and supportive home. Alongside emotional challenges, these families often face significant financial pressures, cultural and language barriers, and additional complex life challenges.

The Families in Growth program was born out of a deep understanding of the complex needs of at-risk families of young children with disabilities. This program, which began a few years ago in our rehabilitative early childhood centers in Ashkelon, was designed to address the needs of at-risk children by providing family parenting and disability support. Through the program, they received, for the first time, professional and supportive guidance that provided them with the tools to cope, grow, and create a better future for their children.

In response to field-identified needs, the recent efforts covered our early childhood families in Ashkelon and Holon, and we are now expanding it to those parent who need it in our other eight early childhood centers.

During the program's home-based sessions, Chimes Israel's teams – parent coaches and healthcare professionals – provide the parents with guidance and practical tools. The sessions focus on empowering parents, improving daily functionality, and strengthening their sense of capability. Each family also receives a special game kit and tailored equipment to support them after the session’s conclusion.

In the recent session, Chimes Israel professionals had to sensitively deal with the challenges of the families’ cultural and linguistic gaps and harsh living conditions. For the parents, the sessions were a source of practical guidance and a healing experience that restored their confidence in themselves and their parenting abilities.

The success of this program is not just a professional achievement, it is a true collaboration between the Chimes teams and the parents. While the process requires significant resources, the results speak for themselves: transformed lives, renewed parental self-perception, and the creation of new hope for entire families.

With your support, we will be able expand this activity to reach more families, create real change in our community, and build a better future for the families who need us most.