Emergency Appeal: Strengthening the Resilience of Israel’s Most Vulnerable Children

When the Home Front is Under Fire. In Israel, 25,000 Children Are without Family Support.  Join us to provide them with a Lifeline of resilience and sanity amidst the war. Following the launch of Operation "Lion's Roar" and the current national security situation, The Public Forum for Youth Villages, Welfare Boarding Schools and Foster Care in Israel has established a dedicated emergency command center for out-of-home care frameworks, operating nationwide. Today, approximately 25,000 children and adolescents at risk live in out-of-home care frameworks in Israel (youth villages, welfare boarding schools, and the foster care system). Even in routine times, these children cope with complex trauma, neglect, abuse, loss, and the absence of a stable family support network. Many of them experience significant emotional and psychological deprivation. The resilience of the supportive environment around them is the most critical factor. Especially in the current security situation, the vulnerabilities of these children are significantly heightened. They spend long hours in protected spaces under repeated sirens and ongoing uncertainty. For children with traumatic backgrounds, these situations may trigger deep anxiety, behavioral regression, emotional outbursts, and a renewed sense of loss of control. At the same time, the educational and therapeutic frameworks are required to continue operating under intense emotional and operational pressure. The Public Forum is the voice of these children — we are working to ensure that the support system holding them remains stable and strong. Mapping Needs & On-the-Ground Activities As a national organization working to strengthen and advance all out-of-home care frameworks in Israel, the Public Forum operates a coordinated national emergency command center, conducts real-time nationwide needs assessments, and leads coordinated responses in the field. The assessment we conducted in recent days identified three immediate and critical needs: • Strengthening resilience among educational and therapeutic staff: Staff members accompany the children 24/7 under continuous pressure. During the first week of the war, 300 staff members and foster parents participated in dedicated resilience trainings, receiving tools for emotional regulation and processing of stressful experiences. • Recreation activities and relief programs for children and youth: Creating moments of stability and calm within protected spaces, helping reduce stress and maintain a sense of routine. • Digital equipment (tablets/computers) for remote learning: Especially for children in foster families, enabling them to continue their education during the emergency and while living under fire. Time Is a Decisive Factor From our experience, early intervention and systemic reinforcement during emergencies are critical. They prevent burnout and collapse of support systems and have a direct impact on the well-being of the children. The Public Forum has already activated the Emergency Support Package in response to urgent needs arising from the field. We need you with us to ensure that no child is left behind.