FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMP INC

Yedid nefesh - foundation for jewish camp's yedid nefesh (beloved soul) initiative launched in 2019 with a visionary gift from the marcus foundation to nurture mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health (messh) at jewish camps. Prior to the covid-19 pandemic and current youth mental health crisis, more than 90 camps applied for the initial cohort of 30, indicating this as a clear need and priority for camps. Over the years, as youth mental health needs reach crisis levels, the marcus foundation increased its financial support from $3m over four years to $5m expanding the program across seven years. In 2021, uja-federation of new york provided funding to offer the program at 8 local day camps, adding a 9th local day camp the following year. They paved the way for jewish federation of greater los angeles to follow suit in 2022, funding the program at an additional 3 camps in the southern california region. To date there are three cohorts made up of 102 jewish day and overnight camps. Each camp receives four years of financial and programmatic support to address messh in holistic ways. The total amount a camp may receive over four years is $36,500 for: hiring a qualified mental health professional on their staff, enhancing and expanding counselor training, integrating new proactive wellness programming into activity areas, and developing outreach initiatives to decrease stigma around mental health in their community year-round. Camp leadership and mental health professionals participate in learning throughout the year, including a monthly online community of practice and yearly in-person conference. An advisory group of mental health experts, researchers, and educators meet regularly and create resources available to camp staff. The initiative also includes a fellowship program enabling graduate students pursuing careers in mental health to spend a summer learning on-the-job at a camp, accessing mentorship, benefiting from weekly professional development as a cohort, and receiving a stipend to supplement their summer camp salary - all in an effort to build a talent pipeline as the shortage of qualified mental health professionals continues across north america. For many people, jewish camp provides a place to feel safe and uniquely empowered to embrace their whole selves. The growing awareness and evolving complexity of mental health challenges in our society necessitates camps be equipped with enhanced staffing and training at all levels to ensure proactive support for the mental health needs of every community member. Through these efforts, we can build stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient communities year-round.