Dec 7, 2022

Federation Launches BeWell Miami to Raise Awareness About the Youth Mental Health Crisis


At the end of November, Federation officially launched our BeWell Miami Youth Mental Health Initiative, following many months of close collaboration with agencies, day schools and synagogues, along with critical support from our subsidiary agency the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education and our primary human services partner Jewish Community Services of South Florida. Nearly 60 people representing 23 local organizations attended the kickoff, where the group worked together to address the youth mental health crisis. Under the leadership of Elise Scheck Bonwitt, the group unveiled the results of a Federation-commissioned youth mental health survey and made a number of recommendations our community can implement to address this national epidemic. We also unveiled a new Youth Mental Health helpline — available by phone or text message — that will be shared in private areas (such as bathroom stalls) at all 10 Federation-funded Jewish day schools, along with synagogues, JCCs and other places frequented by teens and young adults. For more information, please contact Michelle Labgold at mlabgold@gmjf.org.