By Chair, Esti (Ester) Cole, Ph.D.
The Education Committee activities and consultative undertakings are governed by AJP’s Mission Statement. The committee, which meets twice a month, has a broad mandate that focuses on current evidence-based projects embedded with a Jewish lens in primary, secondary, and tertiary programs on a continuum. The committee membership represents scientist-practitioners, academic faculty, and researchers. Students are welcome. During meetings, members consult, work together on activities, and network with affiliates who wish to collaborate. Deliverables have included:
- Organizing downloadable broad educational resources on the Website. Those include: Canadian Handbook on IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism; Mental Health Services & Resources in Israel; APA 2024-Culturally Informed Trauma &Grief Recovery Toolkit; The Importance of Cultural Humility and Allyship; Social Media Resources for Youth & Families; Jewish Diversity Resources; WHO. (2021). Sel-Help Plus (SH+); UBC. (2024). Introduction to Anti-Jewish Discrimination; Conflict and War Mental Health Resources; AJP & ADL. (2024). Conversations that matter- Understanding and discussing antisemitism with young people.
- Facilitating live Webinars for the membership community on topics such as- a)Personal, community and national resilience in times of war, b & c) Abbreviated psychological first aid training: Emotional support in response to the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023- parts I&II, d) Building a wellness toolbox: Coping skills to enhance mental health during challenging times, e) School climate & social justice: How would an emerging K-12 antisemitism agenda fit within school safety, f)Guidelines for Professional Practice with Trauma Survivors, g)Bridging worlds: Identity, culture, and Countertransference in mental health, h) Spirituality and religion: Relevant aspects of diverse identities in clinical treatment, i) Judaism , Antisemitism and Zionism in Fromm and the Frankfurt School, j) Home within the heart: A group play-based intervention, k) Jewish Psychologists in South Africa: A view from ground zero, l)Antisemitism in medical and mental health systems: Impact on patient trust and practitioner vetting, m)From struggles to solutions: Human rights, education, and the quest for peace, n) The crisis of Antisemitism on College Campuses, o) Enough is enough: Jewish and Indigenous perspectives in addressing Antisemitism.
- Members of the Education and other Committees have presented at the APA Annual Conventions.
- The Committee conducted the first AJP Membership Survey in 2024, with its report posted on the website. The Survey II report will be available in the fall of 2025. Its aim has been to gather more information on growing membership demographics, cultural identity, areas of interest, concerns, and goals for involvement. Its focus is a program evaluation study intended to assess the needs of AJP as a membership program and to examine progress on the goals of the organization. In addition to membership engagement for input, findings will have the potential outcomes to support advocacy by establishing a database of information about members’ views and needs as mental health providers.
- Updating collaborative partnerships (D.A.R.A. , ALCCA, Israeli networks, The Jewish Therapist Collective, SAJMAP, Kesher Salom Projects, AJMA).
- Collaborating with the Social Media Committee to increase visibility through outreach-focused content, advertise upcoming events, and share educational content.
The Education Committee will be honored to welcome you among its members. Should you be interested in joining us, please contact me at ester.cole@sympatico.ca
