Cultural Accessibility of a Prevention Program

for Ultra-Orthodox Preschool Boys in Israel

Dr. Yafit Gilboa

The isolated Ultra-Orthodox community context

• Defined by its commitment and adherence to preserve and observed an entire life-enfolding system of immutable values, norms, laws and institutions

• Representing an essential integrating force in Jewish individual,families and communities' identity (Weiss et al., 2013).

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Ultra-Orthodox community

• Emphasize the rules of modesty and separation by gender.

• Set clear boundaries between themselves and general society in order to maintain their special character and prevent “foreign” influences.

(Gilboa and Rosenblum, 2012).

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Ultra-Orthodox -Numerically

• Communities exist worldwide.

• Approximately 10% of the over 13 million Jews in the world today and

• Numbers are increasing due to high birth rate and low rate of assimilation within the community.

• 700,000 in Israel -9% of the population (CBS, 2010).

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Ultra-Orthodox -Numerically

• Communities exist worldwide.

• Approximately 10% of the over 13 million Jews in the world today and

• Numbers are increasing due to high birth rate and low rate of assimilation.

• 700,000 in Israel -9% of the population (CBS, 2010).

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Ultra-Orthodox community's educational system

• Usually independent or partially independent

• With little or no supervision and support from the Israeli Ministry of Education

• The boys’ and girls’ education systems are separate and with a different curriculum from the age of three

(Erhard and Erhard‐Weiss, 2007).

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Ultra-Orthodox preschools for boys

• Do not require their male teachers to have official certification in education (Wolfson and Stoler, 2007).

• The educational curriculum focus on reading

• Few opportunities and equipment for play and physical activities

• Higher percentage of children who were at risk/delayed in motor skills (Golos et al., 2011a; 2011b)

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Ma'agan

(1) Identifying at an early age children who are at risk for developmental delays

(2) Creating an enriching developmental environment for all the children in participating kindergartens

(Ben Rabi et al., 2008)

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Cultural adaptation

• “The aspiration for inclusiveness meets the reality of cultural heterogeneity” (Barrera et al., 2011)

• The challenge - maintain essential elements of the program while adapting the delivery methods and materials to the target population (McNaughton et al., 2013).

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Principles of community partnership

(Resnicow et al., 1999)

Cultural adaptation

Surface

Deep

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Cultural adaptation of Ma'agan to Ultra-Orthodox preschool

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Deep structure strategies

• Cultural values, social norms, history, opinions, and the challenges experienced by the population

• Firsthand knowledge

• Communication with community members to incorporate their priorities, problems, and preferred methods of participation

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Surface structure strategies

• Health education materials- brochure…

• Preserve the religious nature of the setting:

Gender

Modest dress

language (Yiddish) and sector considerations.

Appropriate games and equipment that would be approved by the spiritual authorities.

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.

Ultra-Orthodox program additions

a. Teacher workshops on child development

b. Parent workshops - Fathers and Mothers separately

Yafit GILBOA, OT PhD.