Horizon
The National Center for Innovation in Resilience, Trauma, and Child & Family Mental Health: Vision, Philosophy, and Strategic Directions
At the Center, located on the Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus, researchers, students, professionals, policymakers, and community members work together to generate innovative ideas, practices, and interventions.
By integrating academic research, professional experience, and the vision of young students, the Center serves as a living laboratory for social innovation — designing, testing, and scaling evidence-based solutions for Israel and the world.
Operational Model
The Center integrates academic knowledge, practical expertise, and community collaboration to develop solutions that address emerging needs during this critical period — aiming to create meaningful impact and lasting change.
One of the pillars of our strategy is the establishment of dynamic, multidisciplinary innovation groups that bring together diverse perspectives and expertise. These groups advance innovative projects focused on strengthening resilience, addressing trauma, and promoting mental health among children and their families. Serving as social innovation laboratories, the groups develop and test research-based approaches with practical applications.
The Center’s work is guided by three core principles:
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Restoring trust within the family – strengthening children’s sense of security in their parents as protectors.
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Rebuilding trust within the community – enhancing the capacity of local communities to care for children and support families.
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Learning from children themselves – engaging children in dialogue, recognizing their perspectives, and co-designing solutions with them.
The Center’s approach is grounded in human-centered design, creative thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous learning.
Each initiative functions as a living experiment — tested, refined, and improved to ensure solutions that are relevant, compassionate, and grounded in real-world needs.
Strategic Partnership: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Haruv Institute
The Center is a joint initiative of the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Haruv Institute, Israel’s leading applied institute in the field of children at risk.
The Paul Baerwald School contributes exceptional academic expertise, a rare concentration of research knowledge in the fields of trauma and mental health, and a deep commitment to academic activism — translating knowledge and ideas into policy and practice.
The Haruv Institute serves as the Center’s applied arm, bringing proven experience in developing and implementing innovative professional training programs, bridging research and practice, and reaching thousands of professionals across multiple disciplines.
The partnership between these two institutions ensures that the Center’s work is both intellectually rigorous and practically impactful — producing solutions that move efficiently from concept to implementation.
The Center’s work is organized around Innovation Groups – multidisciplinary teams that operate year-round as incubators for social innovation. Each group brings together students, faculty, professionals, and experienced experts – including children and adults who have personal experience with the issues being explored in these learning incubators.
Student Opportunities
Students play a central role in the Center’s Innovation Groups. As part of their participation, they collaborate with faculty members, professionals, and affected communities, gaining hands-on experience in developing innovative models and interventions.
Throughout the academic year, students engage in a process that includes identifying challenges, developing creative solutions, and adapting models and interventions to the specific needs of target populations.
In addition, students play a key role in initiating the Innovation Groups themselves. During the year, idea-generation sessions are held across the university’s campuses, where students identify needs and challenges that serve as the foundation for creating the following year’s Innovation Groups.
This is a unique opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research, acquire interdisciplinary experience, and contribute to meaningful social impact.