Counseling Assistance for Foster Families with Children with Disabilities

About the Project Children with disabilities require more care than the average child; more medical support, more emotional attention, more patience and understanding.  But what happens to this child when he or she is abandoned and forced to move away from their parents? Osher (all names have been changed to protect identity), is a boy with Downs Syndrome who was abandoned in the hospital immediately after his birth in March of 2020.  His mother refused to raise him, and the family had no connection with the father.  The doctors determined that Osher had little chance to ever walk because of a spinal issue and excess fluid in his brain.   A foster family took him in and twice a week would bring him to the hospital for medical care.  His treatments would take a great deal of time and cost, alongside the incredible love this family was giving him.  And in face of these remarkable challenges, the family admitted that they certainly couldn’t do it alone.   The Summit Institute provides ongoing support to Osher and his family, so that we can help ensure he has a warm and caring home. Similar support is given to over 60 families caring for foster children with particularly difficult challenges.  Our extensive professional support is provided by our team in coordination with foster program counselors who are also all social workers.   This support provides families with the tools to address the needs to deal with extremely complex challenges relating to children with severe disabilities.  We know that by being able to provide this support, we are able to prevent situations where families simply collapse under the overwhelming reality that comes with so selflessly dedicating themselves to these children. By keeping these families within our foster network, we are able to promise these special children a warm and protective home and avoid them being referred to other institutional frameworks.  This support program is funded completely from donor support and does not benefit from government funding.  The cost of providing increased support for children with disabilities is about 6,000 shekel per year. The Summit Institute works with 66 children with severe disabilities and there is an urgent need to provide these foster families with the appropriate and intensive levels of support.  We invite you to help us provide them with that assistance so that they will continue to be able to care for these children who need so much.