HeartA Transformational Message Resonating Far and WideHinda Mizrahi’s Speech at OHEL read and viewed by thousands

With One

Spring 2013 | 5773

Helping Hurricane Sandy Victims

New Housing Secured

OHEL TRAUMA Services

Increase in Eldercare Services

Helping Children of Divorce

Top Ranked in NYC

OHEL is Forever Family

Everyone Counts at OHEL’s Gala

Expansion in Five Towns, Los Angeles & Florida

Young Leaders Join Board of Directors

Team OHEL on the Move!

In an environment of governmentcutbacks, OHEL was recentlyawarded 58 new Supported Housing beds for adults with mental illness and developmental disabilitiesCOO of OHEL, Asher Fogel says that “the granting of thisnew housing was in large part due to OHEL's rigorousefforts to adapt to NY State’s Medicaid redesign plans.”Apart from housing, OHEL will provide comprehensivecase management services, so that individuals can thriveand lead independent lives. O

OHEL Secures Largest Number of New Housing at One Time

Camp Kaylie, The Dr. Joe Silver Campus, isrocking the camping world and enjoying its3rd spectacular summer this 2013! To meetthis phenomenal growth, OHEL has sub-stantially invested in new infrastructure, im-proving on an already beautiful campsiteand facilities. OHEL and Camp Kaylie areforever grateful for the ongoing and gener-ous support provided by Harvey and GloriaKaylie. In the words of Harvey Kaylie, “Overmy long and successful career, the accom-plishment of which I am most proud of isCamp Kaylie. My dream of a state-of-the-artcamp providing a marvelous experience forchildren of all abilities has been fulfilled.” O

As Camp Kaylie Soars OHEL Further Invests

www.ohelfamily.orgpage two

Major Program and Service DevelopmentsMoishe HellmanCo-President,OHEL Bais Ezra

OHEL MAIN OFFICE4510 16th Avenue | Brooklyn, NY 112041-800-603-OHEL | 718-851-6300718-851-2772 faxwww.ohelfamily.org askohel@ohelfamily.org

THE ELLY & BROCHIE KLEINMAN OHELREGIONAL FAMILY CENTER156 Beach 9th Street | 2nd FloorFar Rockaway, NY 11691 | 347-695-9700

OHEL COMMUNITY SERVICES125B Spruce StreetCedarhurst, NY 11516347-695-9700

TIKVAH AT OHELTHE MARVIN KAYLIE CENTERHARRY & JEANETTE WEINBERG BUILDING2925A Kings Highway | Brooklyn NY 11229718-382-0045 | 718-382-0051 fax

OHEL NEW JERSEY BEHAVIORALHEALTH AND FAMILY CENTER696 Palisade Ave | Teaneck NJ 07666201-692-3972 | 201-692-3974 fax

OHEL SOUTH FLORIDA SERVICES2925 Aventura Boulevard, Suite 300Aventura, Florida 331801-888-311-OHEL | 305-401-1134

ETTA at OHEL12722 Riverside Drive, Suite 105North Hollywood, CA 91607818-985-3882 | 818-487-9740 fax

MOSHE ZAKHEIM | ELLY KLEINMANCo-Chairmen of the Board

ELLY KLEINMANChairman, Board of Trustees,Camp Kaylie, Dr. Joe Silver Campus

ROBERT KATZChief Development Officer

Produced by the OHELCommunications Department

DEREK SAKERDirector of Communications

JEREMY PASTERNAKMarketing Associate

Mel ZachterCo-President,OHEL Bais Ezra

Ronny HershPresident, Lifetime Care Foundation

David MandelChief Executive Officer

Offices

page three

These services are primarily provided through OHEL’s Rapid Response Team andOHEL’s Crisis Intervention Services, which are staffed by trauma specialists who are multilingual in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Hebrew, and Yiddish. Norman Blumenthal,Ph.D., a well-known specialist and speaker in trauma and OHEL’s new Director ofTRAUMA, Bereavement & Rapid Response Team remarks that “from individual, group,and family Trauma counseling services to community education and outreach, OHEL isable to both comfort and support victims of trauma while better preparing individuals,institutions and communities in dealing with tragedy.”O

OHEL Expands TRAUMAServices, Dr. Norman BlumenthalNew DirectorOHEL, a leader in trauma services, is further expanding its reach, leveraging its highly specialized expertise to meet the immediate needs of the greater number of individuals, families andcommunities affected by trauma.

OHEL Increases Eldercare Services as Baby-Boom Generation Comes of AgeToday seniors are the fastest growing segmentof our population. From OHEL’s Caregiver Help Line, to Supplemental Needs Trust, OHEL geriatricspecialists provide programs to seniors, their families and caregivers to help access theoptimum physical and mental health services, effectively manage finances, increase skillsfor independent living, and generally improve their the quality of life. OHEL also providesspecialist services to Holocaust Survivors in a programfunded in part by the Claims Conference. Harriet Blank,Director of OHEL Geriatric Services says “Our specialistteams in NY and NJ work to ensure that seniors grow olderwith dignity, respect and independence. O

Responds to Hurricane Sandy

OHEL was one of several agencies awarded a FEMA fundedprogram delivered to New York City residents with oversight bythe New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.The goal of the program is to reach large numbers of peopleaffected by Hurricane Sandy through face-to-face outreach toprovide emotional support, education, crisis counseling and tolink survivors to other needed services.

OHEL has over 30 crisis counselors on the ground, providingoutreach and crisis counseling to individuals and families incommunities including Seagate, Brighton Beach, ManhattanBeach, Belle Harbor, Neponsit, Far Rockaway, Bayswater, StatenIsland and Manhattan.

Hurricane Sandy did not discriminate in its path of destruction.Our Project Hope at OHEL counselors who are fluent in Hebrew,Yiddish, Russian, and Chinese are serving people of all faiths andethnic groups.

OHEL provides Project Hope Counseling Services at the ConeyIsland Disaster Recovery Center, The White Shul , The JewishCommunity Council of Rockaway Peninsula, the ShorefrontJCC, the Coney Recovers Trailer, Congregation Toras Emes

of Staten Island and many other communitybased sites. O

OHEL provides services in over a dozen schools,located in the most impacted areas. Additionally,

OHEL has been counseling survivors in seniorcenters, shuls, churches and community basedorganizations, as well as survivors who are still

displaced and living in hotels.

Project Hopeat OHEL

“It’s been a wonderful bracha that has given Josh the quality life that he and others with developmental disabili-ties deserve” says Ben Englander, Josh’s Dad. OHEL hastransformed these adolescents lives by giving them a fulland rich life filled with love and care from devoted staff and therapists.

Josh and his housemates’ beloved home was totally destroyed by the ravaging waves ofSandy. The residence is uninhabitable and Joshand his housemates lost everything – the entirefirst floor was destroyed, including bedrooms,kitchen, living and dining area, medical suite,staff offices and a playroom with sensoryequipment that Josh and his housematesloved. Most of the residents’ personal belongings were also destroyed.

Displacement from the Hurricane hasbeen hard on everyone in the community– but for individuals with disabilities, thechallenges are that much greater.OHEL is helping Josh and the

residents of Arlington adjust to their new temporary homeand surroundings – because OHEL is their family forever.

Despite flood insurance on the property, there remain hugelosses for OHEL to rebuild this property. However, rebuildingis already underway and OHEL is grateful to the many community leaders, family members, students, friends andfoundations who are partnering with us to help rebuild theresidence and lives of Josh and his friends. O

Arlington, OHEL Bais Ezra’s residence in Cedarhurst has been home for five adolescents with severe disabilities.

OHEL Outlook Spring 2013 | 5773 page five

Thousands of Victims of HurricaneSandy Helped Through

Project Hope at OHEL reaches out to individuals, families,schools, business and community groups

For more information about Project Hope, please call 718-686-3321 or 1.800.LIFENET, a 24/7 confidential referralhotline network matching Hurricane Sandy survivors with a

Project Hope provider agency in their community

To order a free copy of Project Hope at OHEL’s How ToHelp Children Feel Strong brochure please go to

www.ohelfamily.org/projecthope

page four

OHEL Bais Ezra’s Arlington Residence Devastated by Hurricane Sandy

You can help our residents get back home. See video and stories at www.ohelfamily.org/getbackhome

Unfortunately, HurricaneSandy changed all this.

Before Sandy

Charlie Harary delivered an inspiring speech for Project Hope at OHEL entitled, “Pesach and the Pathto Freedom Today” at YI of Wavecrest & Bayswater

some members of the Project Hope at OHEL Team

OHEL received a generous grant from theRobin Hood Foundation which is being

used to provide services to older adults andindividuals with disabilities through therestored offices of the Lifetime Care

Foundation destroyed by Hurricane Sandyand to provide trauma counseling to

individuals in Nassau County affected byHurricane Sandy

www.ohelfamily.org

The large and enthusiastic turnoutof more than 1,100 guests, theinspirational speeches, and movingvideos, demonstrated tremendouscommitment to the Gala’s themeEveryone Counts at OHEL atOHEL’s 43rd Annual Gala at theNew York Hilton.

For more than 43 years, OHEL has provided critical programs and servicesinspired by the principle that every individual counts and deserves to be acherished member of the community.

OHEL is grateful to Annual Gala sponsor Americare and company Presidentand CEO, Elly Kleinman. Chair of Camp Kaylie at OHEL, Mr. Kleinman isone of OHEL’s most fervent supporters and loyal friends.

“OHEL looks at every person and sees a soul,” said Hinda Mizrahi, who with her husband Robert was honored was honored with OHEL’s Children’s Advocacy Award and whose transformational speech drew all totears – and tens of thousands of online video views.

www.ohelfamily.orgpage six OHEL Outlook Spring 2013 | 5773 page seven

Corporate Guest of Honor Saul N. Friedman of Saul N. Friedman & Company, an OHEL Board Member and Vice Presidentfor more than 21 years, shared his passion for OHEL’s work in a video presentation honoring his commitment to OHEL’s children and families.

The evening’s Guest of Honor was David Brecher, Presidentof First Meridian Mortgage and whose daughter Daniellaspoke movingly about the ways in which OHEL and her fam-ily care for children with disabilities. The Community Award was presented to Jason Cury and Joel Beritz of The Gruss LifeMonument Funds, which has generously contributed computers and built an Outdoor Recreation Center at OHEL Bais Ezra’sArlington residence. The Gala also paid tribute to the memory of Chaim Kaminetzky, OHEL’s beloved Board Member andVice President for more than 30 years. His love for OHEL’s children was immeasurable and his dedication to chesed legendary.OHEL is proud to honor his memory by dedicating the Bais Ezra Chaim Kaminetzky Women’s Residence in Hillcrest. OHELis grateful to NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver who addressed the guests and was introduced by Harvey Kaylie. O

Everyone CountsOHEL looks at every person

at OHEL

Gala Dinner

Elly Kleinman, Joel BeritzMel Zachter and Jason Cury

Irving Langer Hon. Sheldon Silver Hon. Sheldon Silver, Harvey KaylieLouis KestenbaumJay Kestenbaum

Moishe Hellman, Shaya Kaminetzky, Barbara KaminetzkyMoshe Zakheim, Miriam Lubling, Mel Zachter

Hon. Bill DeBlasio Joel Beritz, Jason Cury

David & Leah Brecher, Daniella Brecherand Irving Langer

Saul N. FriedmanMoishe Hellman

Hinda’s Brothers, Hinda, Robert & Matthew Mizrahi, David Mandel

Elly Kleinman, Harvey KaylieRobert Katz, Jerry Weissman

Elly Kleinman, Saul N. FriedmanMel Zachter, William Bogner

Lawrence GabeMoishe Hellman, Hon. Mark Weprin, Elly Kleinman, Hon. Jerry Nadler, Hon. David Weprin,

David Brecher, Jay Kestenbaum

OHEL does so much of the heavy lifting. 24/7.Whether it be Foster Care, Domestic Violence, residences forhundreds of individuals with Psychiatric or DevelopmentalDisabilities, traumatized Hurricane Sandy victims, GeriatricCare, bullying prevention, care for victims of abuse, drugprevention - we go where so many wouldn’t dare to go.

-At one of OHEL’s recent Board meetings, as we often do, oneof our clients presented her story. We have thousands ofstories… the woman who told her story had everyone in tears.A client served by our Adult Mental Health Program wasinterviewed by her social worker, who asked easy questions tomake sure she felt comfortable.

What Is your name? Rivka

How old are you? 53

Tell me about yourself…Well, I used to be an Oncologist,and I was on the Faculty of the “Prestigious” School ofMedicine, and then at age 42 I got sick and had to stopworking.

So what do you do now? I work in an office of a localcommunity center.

And do you have any dreams? Yes- I would love to getmarried one day

And so began the process of our staff and Board to find a“shidduch match” for Rivka.

OHEL walks into the desert of the community where othersdon’t go.

Where others may be afraid to go.

One final story:See this email below I received from Shelley Berger, Director ofOHEL’s Foster Care program – written at 4:00am.

The couple agreed to serve as Foster parents to the little baby,and, being childless, they subsequently adopted him. ThroughOHEL’s Simcha Fund, we helped make a bris and small partyfor this baby boy.

That’s the OHEL way. Doing the Heavy Lifting.

PLEASE support our special work, and allow me to say THANK YOU to all of you in advance. And if you have supported us in the past, I offer youa huge thank you from the bottom of our hearts.May we always merit your blessings and friendship.

-Robert

www.ohelfamily.orgpageeight OHEL Outlook Spring 2013 | 5773 pagenine

From Robert Katz, OHEL Chief Development Officer

FamilyForever“Dear Friend,

Many wonderful organizations respond to various horrible crises facingthe Jewish people. Ultimately, these organizations, as well as theindividuals they serve, move on to the next crisis as it develops.

At OHEL, we do the “heavy lifting” because we remain ‘Family Forever’.

When over 400 needy souls live under yourroof full time in various residential models,OHEL becomes that person’s family as muchas their own. Often-times, we are there for

decades, for a lifetime.Here are some inspiring stories:

-A woman wrote to our OHEL Eldercare Team with the following commentand question:

“My husband and I have children of our own, but we also have his fatherliving with us. We need help as my father-in-law is very needy, and whowould have ever thought that at the age of 40 I would be waking up inthe middle of the night to take care of a parent more often than I wakeup to take care of my own children??”

-OHEL just received a generous grant from a The Mark Paul TerkCharitable Trust to help de-stigmatize disabilities in our communities.With this support, OHEL produced a groundbreaking calendar for the year2013, showing beautiful portraits of typical children with their brother orsister challenged by a developmental disability. Many of you received it inthe mail. One of the months has a particularly poignant photo with thefollowing quote:

“I was one of 5 children. After my baby brother was born with adevelopmental disability, I thought I was responsible. It had to be myfault. The first 5 kids in the family were all normal, and then the oneborn right after me was autistic. What did I do wrong?”

We care, not only for those with disabilities, but for the entire family, andthrough OHEL’s Sibshops program we care for their brothers and sisterswith the myriad of challenges of their own.

OHEL is

Dear All - In case you were wondering what I wasdoing in the wee hours...

Mimi called me at 1:30AM with a call from the Cityof New York’s Agency for Children’s Services aboutan abandoned Jewish baby boy at Bellevue Hospital.Despite what the ACS worker had earlier told Mimion Tuesday, that the baby will be ready for dischargein a few weeks, ACS said he's ready to bedischarged tomorrow and will need to be picked up.We ran to the Hospital at 230am and claimed him.We have absolutely no medical info on this baby ontheir paperwork, but of course we accepted him anyway. Shulamit just gotoff the phone with Ayala, an OHEL Foster parent. She and her husband arehappy to accept this baby.

Hinda and Robert Mizrahi were recently honored with OHEL'sChildren's Advocacy Award at the OHEL Annual Gala. This isan edited version of Hinda Mizrahi’s moving speech:

A Transformational Speech from the OHEL Gala

“I grew up with two "regular" brothers, four "regular" sisters and four developmentally disabled brothers.

Therefore I am looked at with both awe andskepticism. I am someone to socialize with andbefriend, but not someone to get too close to, or evenmarry, because my genes are considered blemished. My special brothers, who I would not trade for anything in the world, are considered imperfect and defective.

I have seen people believe that they can dictate to G-d which challenges in lifethey want, but I have learned that G-d only gives what he knows we can handle.It is up to us to rise to the occasion.

I am told that there is such a thing as sibling rivalry, that siblings are jealousof one another, or fight so much they can hurt one another physically andmentally. I wouldn't know. Because in my family of 11, we never fought, werenever jealous, and certainly never used words like moron, stupid or crazy.

We defended each other. We cheered each other on. We knew from a young age what challenges really meant.

While some may poke fun at you for reading funny, or not reading fastenough, we knew there were those who couldn’t read at all. So we coachedeach other, gave each other tips, and tried to help each other succeed.

When a friend came over to play and another sibling wanted to play along,we let them because we saw the hurt when one of our brothers waited for afriend to play with but no one came.

We were good to our friends, too.

When we were captain of a sports team, or brought our ballto play with at recess, we made sure everyone who wanted toplay got picked for a team - no matter their ability, becausewe saw and felt rejection when one of our brothers sat on theside lines day after day, wishing to participate in a game.

When we were counselors and color war captains, we madesure each person had a place and felt included because wesaw our brothers fight with everything they had to be included and be just like everyone else.

Who would have believed that my father, a prominent Orthodox Rabbi of a large, illustrious community, and mymother, daughter of a world renowned Rosh HaYeshiva,would send four of their six boys to public school, and set

their goals as simply saying Shema and blessings everymorning, slowly and clearly, and to greet everyone theymeet with a nice shalom and strong handshake while look-ing them in the eye?

We learned what responsibility as a parent really meant, asmy parents would get up and daven (pray) with my brothersevery morning and say Shema with them every night.

Even today, when they live in an OHEL Bais Ezra home, theystill daven with them, never relying on others to do whatthey believe needs to be done.

We were reminded daily of the proper way to treat our parentsas our brothers always listened to what my parents said, neverspoke back to them or talked in a disrespectful manner.

When I stepped out of line, even before my parents had achance to discipline me, it was one of my special brothers

who would say, “Hindy, that is not the way you talk to amother!” And how can you argue with someone who haslimited intellect, and is right?

We learned that when a sibling starts singing in a busy street,on a rainy day in April, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

In fact, we could be happy for him, that he made the connection of "April showers bring May flowers," somethingwe probably all understood right away but took him longer

to comprehend.

More importantly, there wasnothing any sibling could do toembarrass us because we experi-enced very early on that being dif-ferent still offers somethingunique to the family.

In our home, there was never a bad morning because everymorning meant a new day, a new beginning, something tolook forward to.

Monday mornings were especially exciting because Mondayand morning both started with the letter “m.” We knew theimportance of structure because structure has a way of keep-ing things in line and manageable.

But we learned very early on that life is unpredictable, and youcan plan and hope, but humans and children are not robots,and things sometimes happen or change - just because.

We learned how to make sacrifices. Yes, it hurt that I couldn't get a cabbage patch doll when allmy friends had one.

But if it meant my brother got an extra physical therapy lessonand he could now ride a bike – I was excited for him and I learned to play with my friend’s doll.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, Continued...

www.ohelfamily.orgpage ten OHEL Outlook Spring 2013 | 5773 pageeleven

HeartWith One

Growing up with four developmentally disabled brothers.

By Hinda Mizrahi

We saw as young kids what it really meant for parents to want their kids to be the best that they

could be, and not what parents wanted.

In our home, there was never a bad morning because every morningmeant a new day, a new beginning, something to look forward to.

A Jewish child saved, an agency consistently top rated.

OHEL certified foster parents provided safety to a newborn, who came into foster care.

Now adopted, they provide baby Adam with a perma-nent and loving Jewish home. The Milton and MollySchulmanOHEL Foster Care Program recently receivedtop rankings in annual NYC audits. This consistentachievement stands as testimony to the dedicated care that staff haveprovided 24/7 to over 2,500 OHEL foster children. OHEL’s Robert andRoselin Vegh Preventive Care Program helps the increasing numberof families facing multiple stresses, works to strengthen families, andkeep them intact.

Today, more foster families are needed than ever before!Becoming a certified foster parent includes training and is a explorative process where both you and OHEL determine if fostering is for you. We encourage you to make inquiries today andsee if you can transform a life! O

Contact OHEL Foster Care at 1800-603-OHELchild@ohelfamily.org www.ohelfamily.org/foster

I learned the true meaning of love.

I learned what it means to love someone and not see theirfaults, and to love with no strings attached, because in mybrothers eyes I am perfect; they love me for being me andexpect nothing back. They are truly excited to see me everytime I see them, or they see a friend of mine.

They call me daily to say hello, yet when they meet someonewho knows me, they will ask them to send me their regardsbecause I am their sister, their perfect older sister.

This past summer, we suffered the death of one of my specialbrothers, Moishe. A friend of mine, who hadn't had the opportunity to meet Moishe commented that he never sawgrown men cry at a funeral like they did at Moishe's.

Over a thousand people were at his funeral, a few hundredat his graveside; many cancelled their vacations to be aroundfor shiva, as they mourned and felt Moishe's loss.

But only 12 people sat shiva because we were his kin. We were special.

So the next time you meet someone who looks funny or actsfunny, whose mental capacity is different, remember theyare not just a physical body with a gene or two that wentwrong. They have a special story to tell. They have a uniquestory to share. Get to know them. Get to know their parentsand their siblings. You will be transformed. You will be inspired. You will become special.

Everyone’s StoryGrowing up, I always wondered what would happen withmy brothers when my parents could no longer care forthem. Would my siblings and I be able to care for them likemy parents did?

Would we be able to give them the love and security thatmade them so happy?

Now, I don't have to worry because I know they are in goodhands. At their home in OHEL Bais Ezra, they are people,not numbers.

They have healthy meals, go on outings, trips and summer

vacation. They go to work or programs and they are surrounded by caring staff. They even got to pick the paintcolor of their bedroom before they moved in.

And when tragedy struck our family, OHEL was there to helpin every way they could, whether it was doctor appoint-ments, overnight hospital stays, or even breaking the sadnews to my brothers the right way.

They have laughed with us, and cried with us. They haveshared in our joys and in our sorrow.

But this is not an honor that belongs to me alone.

It is an honor I share with my siblings; my "special" siblings,because they helped make me who I am today. They mademe worthy of receiving such an honor.

It is an honor I share with my "regular" siblings because itis their story, too - the same but different as we were all ef-fected differently based on our placement in the familyand/or gender.

It is an honor I share with my husband, siblings-in-law, andtheir parents because they didn't see us as damaged goods,but rather as siblings of a beautiful story, a story they havecome to love and accept as their own.

It is an honor that I give to my parents, Rabbi and RebbetzinReisman, the true owners of the story. They are the masterstory tellers.

Thirty plus years ago, when situations like this were kepthidden in the closet and not talked about, they realized theyhad a beautiful story to tell and brought it to the forefront.

It is a credit to their outlook and acceptance of life and theirguidance through life that a small story of young childrenbecame a grand story of grown adults.

It is an honor that I, along with my parents and siblings,thank G-d for, for he has chosen us to be the vehicle forwhich to tell his special story.

Thank you OHEL for all that you provide my family, thecomfort, the care and the peace of mind. O

www.ohelfamily.orgpage twelve OHEL Outlook Spring 2013 | 5773 page thirteen

Today, with over 100 OHEL Bais Ezra residences and apart-ments in The Five Towns, Brooklyn and Queens, one caneasily forget the dearth of housing for those with disabili-ties and the herculean efforts of a few dedicated individualson their behalf. OHEL Bais Ezra’s recent celebration of thecomplete renovation of its 12th Avenue Brooklyn residence forten women with developmental disabilities provided that perspective.Those in attendance included OHEL Co-Presidents Moishe Hellmanand Mel Zachter; Rabbi Philip Goldberg, former Bais Ezra President,OHEL Board members, OHEL staff, residents and family members, aswell as Ms. Donna Limiti, Director of New York State DevelopmentalDisabilities Regional Office. Board member Aryeh Jacobson, son offormer OHEL Bais Ezra President David Jacobson, paid a moving tribute to the history of OHEL Bais Ezra’s first ever group home. OAt their home in

OHEL Bais Ezrathey are people

Latest News

Chanukas Habayis at Grand Reopening of Inaugural Residence

... Continued from page eleven

Foster Family Celebrates withOHEL - NYC’s Top Ranked Foster Care Program

OHEL Opens New FiveTowns Office to Meet Increasing Needs of EverydayIndividuals and Families in the CommunityLocated at 125B Spruce Street, Cedarhurst (in the Gourmet GlattShopping Center), the office provides a number of key servicesincluding Eldercare services, Camp Kaylie information and recruitment and is a gateway to the world of OHEL care and programs. Jay Kestenbaum, OHEL Vice-President and Five Townsresident adds that “OHEL’s Spruce Street office will help to reduce the stigma often associated with emotional and mental well-being” O

page fourteen www.ohelfamily.org

OHEL to Provide AbusePrevention Programs inNYC Schools

Impressed by OHEL’sAbuse Prevention Pro-grams, NYC Departmentof Education approvedOHEL’s comprehensiveproposal to provide train-ing to students, facultyand parents in abuse pre-vention and response. TheNYC Board initiative wasa proactive response tothe allegations againstpublic school personnelfor inappropriate behav-ior with students.O

OHEL Warms Up The Holidays of Chanukah, Purim, and PesachHolidays can be the most festive or lonely of timesof the year. OHEL ensured they were times of joy,loving care - good food! Whether from domestic violence shelters, foster homes, adult residences or day programs, hundreds of OHEL individualsand families enjoyed the annual Chanukahand Purim parties as wellas Chol Hamoed daytrips. OHEL is grateful toSammy & Lea Trencher,who sponsor the AnnualOHEL Chanukah Party. O

From Autism to Trauma, The Mel and Phyllis Zachter OHEL Institute for Training Presents Diverse Seminars thatDraw Thousands of ParticipantsRecognized as a leader in advanced professional education, thousands of participants from the Tri-state area and beyond,annually attend Institute workshops and seminars thataddress a range of challenges facing the community. World-renowned experts have recently presented workshops on theimpact of trauma on children and teens, couples therapy,and emerging adults. Upcoming events include the June 4thCommunity Autism Conference for professionals, parents andadvocates entitled Promoting Social Competence in Children, Teens andAdults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Register today at www.ohelfamily.org/institute O

page fifteen

Left to right: Ben Englander, Jay Kestenbaum,Rivka Wilamowsky,Harriet Blank, Rachel Marks, Irving Langer, Fred Schulman, Simcha Feuerman

Latest News

Young Leaders Join OHEL’s Board of DirectorsOHEL is proud to have recently added a new cadre of young leadership to its Board of Directors. These leaders include CindyBecker, Moshe Haas, Reuven Hellman, Aryeh Jacobson, andDee-nie Schuss. Some are serving the community as second generation OHEL leaders, and all are respected and valued in theirown communities. O

“OHEL is proactive in developing new alliances

as a response to wide-ranging NY State Medicaid Redesign plans.”

OHEL is proactive in developing new alliances as a response to wide-ranging NY State Medicaid Redesign plans” says David Mandel, CEOof OHEL. OHEL is a Board Member of the recently formed not-for-profit consortium Coordinated Behavioral Care (CBC) - a HealthHome for individuals who have complex medical, behavioral andlong term care needs. Additionally, OHEL has partnered with TheBrooklyn Health Home as a provider of managed care services. OHELis a founding Board Member of Advanced Care Alliance (ACA) aswell as the Alliance Care Network (ACN), all of which are focusedon improving services to people with disabilities.O

OHEL Collaborates to FormPartnerships in Managed Care

Groundbreaking OHELBais Ezra Calendar

Funded by The Mark PaulTerk Charitable Trust

OHEL freely distributed thousands of copies of the first-of its kind OHELSibShots 2013/5773Calendar. The album featuresstunning portraits of siblings(children and adults), one ofwhom has a developmentaldisability. Each family waspresented with copies of the photos which were taken byRick Guidotti, founder of Positive Exposure. O

Order at www.ohelfamily.org/calendar

Team OHEL has grown in numbers and event participation– raising funding for many of OHEL children’s programs.This May, twenty five amazing riders will participate on be-half of OHEL in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, America’slargest cycling event.

Last year's top fundraisers were Jonathan and Yaffa Field who willbe joining us again. In July, Team OHEL will participate for thefirst time in the New York City Triathlon. Our 5 member team istraining hard, and we are sure they will meet the challenge!

The cancellation of The NYC Marathon in 2012 due to Hurri-cane Sandy did not stop the fundraising efforts of TeamOHEL! Exceeding fundraising expectations, our incredibleteam of dedicated men and women, laced their shoes and ranin other races with their TeamOHEL jerseys knowing thatthey were running for the fam-ilies and children of OHEL.Our top fundraiser this yearwas Bruce Prince who ran inmemory of his brother Davida''h. This year we are excitedto have 10 more spots in theNYC Marathon.O

Team OHEL is on the Move!

Team OHEL members meet individuals at an OHEL Bais residence

Please Remember OHEL in Your Will

Call Robert Katz 718-972-9338

Latest News

4510 16th AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11204

Check Out OHEL’s New Website for

Comprehensive Help, Advice, Resources & Latest News!

www.ohelfamily.org

OHEL Expands Service Reachto California with Merger toform ‘Etta at OHEL’The recent merger of Etta Israelinto OHEL will further elevate thelives of those challenged by disabilities and their families -through a lifetime commitment ofcare. The new Etta at OHEL Boardof Directors is led by SharonLevine of Los Angeles with Moishe Hellman of New York serving asCo-Presidents. O

Kam Babaoff, Dr. Michael Held, Moishe Hellman, Mel Zachter, Sharon Levine, David Mandel

With Increase of Divorce, OHEL Focuses on Services that

‘Don’t Let Children Get Caught in the Middle’

OHEL held two highly successful Webinars thatdrew hundreds of participants from the Tri-statearea and as far afield as Australia. “Don’t Let theChildren Get Caught” addressed communicationmethods for parents of divorce while “ReinforcingAnchors for Children of Divorce” empoweredcommunity leaders, and educators who are typi-cally role models. Support groups for children arebeing developed. O

LIFETIME CAREFOSTER CARE MENTAL HEALTH CAMP KAYLIEINSTITUTE FOR TRAINING ETTABAIS EZRA

OHEL Partners with Jewish CommunityServices of South Florida (JCSFL) ToProvide Mental Health Services

Further expanding OHEL’s existing SouthFlorida services, OHEL has partnered withthe JCSFL’s Yehi Ohr Program to providecounseling, seminars and related mentalhealth services to the Jewish communityof South Florida. O