In the Fall of 2005 Nachas Health was awarded a Federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that is designed to address the mental health needs of Holocaust Survivors. The goal of Project Chai is to ensure that the project's participants have timely access to appropriate mental health services based on a sound screening and assessment process.

New referrals are first screened and assessed by fully qualified Nachas Health staff. Based on these findings, qualified individuals are then assigned to Project Chai's staff under full supervision for pre-treatment interventions such as individual, family, couple and group supportive interventions. Project Chai with Rizy Horowitz as Outreach Coordinator and Harriet Blank as Clinical Coordinator, continues to utilize collaborations with community agencies to develop referrals and broaden services for the elderly. Examples of these agencies include senior centers, community social services, home care agencies and local doctors.

Recognizing the therapeutic and fiscal benefits of group services, Nachas Health has developed several new groups within Project Chai:

Coffee Time -
Light aerobic exercise, a successful Nachas project started by Rizy Horowitz, has a "spin off" program called Coffee Time.
This weekly program enables a group of women to explore their issues within a therapeutic and safe group milieu.

Book Club -
This club discusses literature and literary themes. Several women discuss issues related to specific book incorporating themes from their own lives and experiences.

Couple's Group -
Here, couples meet to examine the needs of aging couples in a social group setting.

These therapeutic groups have been met with enthusiasm and success. Several additional groups are planned for the near future.

For more information about Project Chai, please contact us.

Contact us to find out how to register for our Holocaust Survivor programs and services.

Click here for additional programs for Seniors.