How do parents know when the right time is to open their children’s eyes to a world outside their own? With every benefit can come a cost that is difficult to calculate and that can lead to harmful consequences. But with the right tools and support, even when things go wrong, the damage does not have to equal a life sentence.
Leah* grew up with a loving family who consistently opened their home to guests from varied backgrounds; and while she was exposed to a wonderful array of different customs, the dark side of that coin was being introduced to various drugs and the opportunity to try them with some of the individuals who visited. With time, Leah moved on to get married and settle in a new community to start her life with her husband, and eventually, two children. But when life got busy and the stressors began to pile up, Leah found herself turning back to drugs to the point where she was no longer able to care for herself or anyone else.
Leah’s husband heard about Amudim from a close friend and encouraged his wife to call. When Leah reached out to us, she knew that she needed rehab, but she wanted to find a treatment route that would be the least traumatic for her young children. The school year was coming to a close, so the case manager suggested that Leah’s husband and children move in with his parents to establish a support system while Leah was in rehab.
We were able to find a wonderful treatment program, but the couple’s insurance did not cover the costs. Our case manager worked tirelessly to secure a subsidized spot and was able to get Leah 30 days of paid rehab. After she entered the program, we worked with her husband on securing a better insurance plan so that Leah could continue after the initial month. Baruch Hashem, we were successful, and Leah is now preparing to step down to outpatient treatment after 90 days of inpatient support. Leah is doing well and is motivated to keep attending meetings and remain in touch with her sponsor; she wants to stay clean for herself and her family and is hopeful for their future.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Amudim is just a phone call away and here to help.
*Names and details have been changed for privacy purposes
Having an open home can offer many beautiful advantages.
It is essential to instill the importance of boundaries and body autonomy, especially when you have children and invite guests into your home.
Let children know they’re the boss of their bodies.
Never force hugs or kisses even with relatives.
If a child doesn’t want to hug during greetings and goodbyes, let them know that’s okay
Keeping Children Safe.
While it’s healthy for children to play and build relationships, we still must be careful and ensure their safety.
Making it a habit to drop in unexpectedly when a child is alone, with a friend, family member or trusted adult, is a great way to ensure this.
Talking to kids about addiction is a crucial and sensitive conversation. We have some tips to help you navigate this topic effectively.
Read them here Talking to Children About Addiction
Each week, Amudim fields calls covering a wide range of crises and addressing various human concerns, including addiction, depression, abuse, health and domestic emergencies and many others. We track the calls and breakdown of issues for many reasons, foremost of which is to consistently improve and strengthen our knowledge and ability to address community’s needs.
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- Roundtrip transportation to and from the hotel to the race on coach buses.
- Inspiring Shabbat with the Amudim Staff
- Pre-race and post-race parties.
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Sunday, September 3, 2023
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Tuesday, September 5, 2023
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Breaking Taboos with Dr. Shloimie Zimmerman
How and Why We Need to Discuss These Sensitive Topics with Our Children!
Dr. Shloimie Zimmerman, Psy.D., is chair of Amudim’s advisory board, a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder and director of a multi-disciplinary group mental health practice.
He is also the author of the groundbreaking book From Boys to Men.