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The Community Unit for Dual Diagnosis at Beit Issie Shapiro, in
collaboration with Schneider Children's Medical Center
The vision of the unit
All people with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric or mental problems will have access to
adapted diagnostic and treatment services at the highest standard.
The Dual Diagnosis Unit at Beit Issie Shapiro, operated in partnership with Schneider Children's
Medical Center, will be a model for countrywide distribution of accessible, adapted and superior
community service for children and adults with Dual Diagnosis.
Areas of activity
Developing a service in the community adapted to people with Dual Diagnosis
Developing and disseminating knowledge with a multidisciplinary and multi-professional
view, among decision-makers and service providers
Changing policy with a view to recognizing these units as part of the basket of services in
the field of mental health
Promoting the establishment of additional community units for Dual Diagnosis in Israel
The objectives of the unit
Main objective
Improving the quality of life of people with Dual Diagnosis and their families, with the aim of
maximizing their inclusion in all areas of life.
Objectives
Service
Providing diagnostic, support, treatment, and guidance services in different spheres
(medicinal, behavioral, emotional, and family), appropriate to the needs of children and
adults with Dual Diagnosis
Building the capacity of families and professionals taking care of people with Dual
Diagnosis in their everyday lives. Capacity building is a process by which family members
and professionals (from the public, private, and social sector) caring for people with
mental disabilities acquire knowledge, skills, and tools with which to cope better with
different situations (Linnel, 2003)
Increasing the involvement of elements in the community in the process: psychiatrists,
family practitioners, social workers.
Dissemination of knowledge
Documenting the knowledge developed in the Dual Diagnosis Unit and translating it into
a working model
Planning and holding seminars and training sessions for professionals and families
Establishing and operating a countrywide information and knowledge center on the
subject