"It is not just an ordinary treatment center but a place where we try to find the answers to the riddles of the wound in the soul of each individual child sent to us."

Haunted by images of family violence, emotionally neglected and often physically abused, some children need long-term care away from their families to heal. With more than 50 years experience treating emotionally disturbed children, the JWI Residential Treatment Center (RTC) in Jerusalem helps children overcome the trauma and nightmares of their early years.

The JWI RTC began as a haven for the ‘Teheran Children”, a group of Jewish children who escaped the Nazis by journeying from Poland through Iran and India to Palestine. What started as a home for 20 children of the Holocaust has grown into a world renowned treatment center for Israel’s most troubled youth.

The JWI RTC is acknowledged as one of the world's finest residential treatment facilities for emotionally disturbed children. At its core is a holistic treatment plan that gives children the time and level of care they need to heal. What makes this program unique is the use of three distinct elements: long-term residential care, drug-free therapy and staff commitment and continuity.

Without long-term comprehensive treatment, these children would endure lives in the criminal justice system and psychiatric facilities in Israel. Due to the dedicated and committed team of social workers, psychologists, teachers, and staff at the RTC, however, a majority of these children move on to successfully complete mandatory military service, have families of their own, and lead healthy, productive adult lives.

The RTC is comprised of three facilities: The Children's Home, which serves children age 7-13; the Canada Group Home, which houses adolescents age 14-18; and an apartment for young men age 18-21 that helps them transition to independent living.

The RTC is an accredited training center for students of special education and social work that provides internships in clinical psychology. Mental health professionals throughout the world look to the RTC for new methods that will help them wrestle with the problems children face. The RTC conducts research programs and exchanges information with the Yale University Child Study Center, Ben Gurion University, Hebrew University, Baylor University and other international institutions.

The RTC is credited with having the highest success rate of any institution of its kind with a recovery rate of 60%.

To make a financial contribution to support the important work of the JWI Residential Treatment Centre, call JWIC toll free at 1-866-333-5942 or contact info@jwicanada.com.