B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
JULY 20, 2017
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Shalom Tikvah Jennifer Grossman and Nicole Glick, PsyD have teamed up to create an innovative approach to helping struggling families in the Jewish Community. Jen, who has a strong education and nonprofit background, and Nicole, who is a licensed psychologist with expertise in children and families, were both seeking a career change. Their only goal as they planned their next chapter was to do something to help the most underserved in such a way that created real, lasting, and impactful change. The two traveled to Israel together where, along with their families, they spent time with foster families supported through Orr Shalom, a non-profit organization established to rescue Israel’s children who have been removed from their homes following severe abuse, neglect and tragedy. It was here that the idea for Shalom Tikvah was born. The pair was inspired by Orr Shalom’s commitment to healing traumatized children through multidisciplinary services while simultaneously working with both foster and biological families to nourish healthy relationships. The way Orr Shalom brings aspirations into the lives of
children was something that Jen and Nicole knew they needed to bring back to Baltimore. They returned with a mission to create beautiful aspirations for children and families who have lost hope. Through an intensive diligence process that included meeting with many rabbis, school administrators and guidance counselors, physicians, therapists, other nonprofits, and community members, the plans for Shalom Tikvah began to really take shape this past winter. Today, after months of hard work, Shalom Tikvah is an established 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with a mission to provide culturally sensitive, innovative, and multidisciplinary services to children of families facing challenging life circumstances, who are at risk for out-of-home placement or have already been placed in foster care. Once its doors are open, Shalom Tikvah will run three divisions to comprehensively meet the needs of these children and families. The Family Strengthening Division will provide in home therapy to struggling families through the provision of consistent wrap-around services, which
will be managed and closely monitored by Shalom Tikvah staff. Individual, family, and marital therapy can be offered directly through Shalom Tikvah’s service provider, while solutions to other needs the family has are met through intentional partnerships with community resources and a robust team of volunteers. In The START (Shalom Tikvah’s Aspirations Rising Together) after school program, children who are suffering will come to a safe, warm, kosher home to receive individual and group therapy, music and art therapy, educational support, life skills development, and recreation. Our Bridge Families will provide safe homes for children when living at home becomes a barrier to healing for the child and the family. Shalom Tikvah staff will coordinate efforts to promote healing within the biological family while supporting the bridge family and providing services to the children. As the news of Shalom Tikvah spreads through the community, Nicole and Jen are working tirelessly to get Shalom Tikvah open and running. Plans
for their first event are underway, where guests will hear more about Shalom Tikvah’s mission, vision, and progress as well as inspiring stories of children living in foster care. At Shalom Tikvah’s Pave the Way event, to be held Wednesday, August 2 at 7 p.m. at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, guests will also personalize a brick paver to be used to beautify the facility, and enjoy kosher light fare, dessert, and wine. To support Shalom Tikvah and register to attend their opening event, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shalomtikvahs-pave-the-way-event-tickets34952767669?aff=eac2). For more information about Shalom Tikvah, please visit their website: www. shalomtikvah.org
Renovations Additions New Construction