Israel

Safe Kids Israel/Beterem is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a safe place for children in Israel. Professor Yehuda Danon, the founding Director of the Schneider Children’s Medical Center and former surgeon general, and Dr. Michal Hemo-Lotem, a pediatrician, founded Beterem in 1995 at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center. Beterem became a member of Safe Kids Worldwide in 2000.

Beterem is the only nationwide organization in Israel that deals exclusively in child safety. It works out of five hospitals throughout the country.

Beterem aims to reduce injuries resulting from unintentional accidents in Israel by at least 30% over the next 10 years.

Programs of Beterem include:

• Beterem Branches

• Bedside Instruction: Counseling Families of Children Injured in Accidents

• Counseling New Mothers

• Safe Kids Week

• Beterem in the City

• Beterem in the Arab Society

• Walk to School

• Imams for Child Safety among the Arab Population

• Expert Hotline
  

Highlights

"Beterem in the City" – National Child Safety Municipalities Alliance

Beterem established guidelines designed to assist municipalities in implementing child safety initiatives and promoting safe behaviors throughout the country.

Beterem has continued to work within local communities by implementing evidence-based programs. Nine municipalities have joined the “Beterem in the City” program, and 20 others are in the process of joining.

Beterem/Safe Kids Israel Launches NAPIS (National Pediatric Injury and Safety Surveillance)

Beterem/Safe Kids Israel, along with its partner the Ministry of Health - National Council for the Promotion of Home and Leisure Safety, initiated the National Pediatric Injury and Safety Surveillance (NAPIS). Serving as a strategic work tool to plan and manage child safety in Israel, the NAPIS incorporates data from variety of resources that record data on injuries and injury prevention in Israel.

By using the NAPIS system, populations at risk (by geographic or ethnic association, risk factors, and preventive measures) can be identified, helping community health professionals develop public education and awareness strategies, as well as changes in legislation and enforcement activities, to create a safer environment.

Israel Makes Commitment to Child Injury Prevention and Promotes a National Child Safety Action Plan

Beterem/Safe Kids Israel is one of many organizations supporting the development of an Israeli Child Safety Action Plan. Currently under development, the Israeli Child Safety Action Plan follows the framework of the Child Safety Action Plan initiative, a large-scale European project led by the European Child Safety Alliance, Euro Safe, in partnership with the European Commission, UNICEF, World Health Organization, Health and Environment Alliance and country partners in over 30 countries.

In July 2009, the Israeli Parliament hosted a joint discussion between the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Economics Affairs Committee to promote a Child Safety Action Plan in Israel. As a result, the Minister of Health, the Committee of the Rights of the Child and the Economics Affairs Committee announced the commitment and leadership of the Ministry of Health to promote a Government Resolution for CSAP in Israel.