Beterem ("beforehand" in Hebrew) – Safe Kids Israel is a nonprofit organization which aims to promote child safety and create a safer environment for children in Israel. We are one of 34 proud member countries of Safe Kids World Wide since 2001.
Each year on average of 116 children die due to preventable accidents. Children are hurt at home, on the road, in schools and public space. On average 20,600 children a year are hospitalized due to accidents and around 202,000 are admitted for treatment in the Emergency Room. Child fatalities and Injuries take a heavy toll on Israel's society and economy.
Beterem Safe Kids Israel is the only entity in Israel solely committed to lead the culture of children safety from birth to age 17 in order to reduce child casualties due to all types of accidents and to raise public awareness of the issue.
To accomplish this the organization is active on all levels. International, national (government and local authorities) and in the general public sphere, employing a myriad of proven strategies and action plans. In the 24 years it exists Beterem Safe Kids Israel together with its associates, has succeeded in reducing child mortality due to accidents by 53%. As of 2003 the Government of Israel has recognized our organization as the leading entity in the country for child safety.
Beterem identifies gaps and lacunas, initiates and promotes legislation and regulations pertaining to child safety. We take part in public forums and national comities (legislation, standard setting and approval, widespread programs and more). We develop and operate customized intervention programs within the community, raise awareness within the general public and spreading international knowledge in the field. We also research and publish a wide range of articles and policy papers.
Beterem operates a Safety Expert Hotline and spreads knowledge and awareness through the media and press to parents, caregivers, medical and childcare professionals.
In 2012 the government decreed that a national long term child safety plan be devised and executed (decree 4289). The government appointed Beterem as the official professional consultant, planning and overseeing the execution of the national children safety program.
Beterem is the official Israeli representative to ECSA (European Child Safety Alliance) and partook in the foundation of and is the Israeli representative to Safe Kids Worldwide. some of our unique intervention programs have been adopted by countries worldwide.
Beterem in numbers:
25 laws, bills and standards passed
38 studies, articles and policy papers published
20,000 training sessions per year
10,000 house visits
2,000 private instruction sessions to parents of hospitalized children due to accidents
Over 10,000 newborn parents instructed in maternity wards each year
Tailored response to about 13,000 parents per year through our Safety Expert Hotline and social media
Our training programs ages 0-17:
1. Safety instruction to parents of newborn babies in maternity wards
2. Safety instruction to parents at infant development tracking clinics
3. Safety programs for young children in day care
4. Adolescent leadership programs - youth as safety promoters in the community
5. Safety at work - training teen-agers who work after school
6. Generation to Generation - grandmothers as safety promoters and agents of change in the community
7. Safe House - house visits and training focused on children's safety in the home
8. Focused safety training for parents whose children are hospitalized due to accidents