AMCHA

AMCHA – The code word that helped survivors identify fellow Jews in war ravaged Europe now stands for another kind of support system: The opportunity for survivors and their families to unburden their hearts and share their life stories with another person. AMCHA is a non-profit organization founded by survivors in 1987. AMCHA has steadily expanded over the past years. Today there are 14 centers that operate throughout the country, and various programs are provided also in many other locations. Over 380 mental health professionals and 900 volunteers provide services to almost 16,000 clients. AMCHA has earned a reputation around the world for its work, and the integrity, competence, and professionalism it bring to every project. It has opened its doors to various survivor communities all around Israel and has established state-of-the-art mental health clinics, social support networks and home care services for the aged in these locations. Through its pioneering work, Israel is today filled with psychosocial support centers that offer services specifically for Holocaust survivors, in their own language. During Holocaust Memorial Day, there is a telephone hotline open for everybody and many art and cultural programs that bridge the gap between the survivor and the non-survivor population and between the old and the young. Along with the expertise of its professional staff, the dedication of its volunteers is endless. Community services that refer clients to AMCHA include the rehabilitation services for the disabled, health agencies, family physicians, mental health centers, municipal social service units, Social Security services, old age homes and various other public institutions. In addition, many survivors come by themselves, or with their children.