Jewish Family Services’ Infant Bonding Program Initiated

October 26, 2006

Jewish Family Services, Inc. has developed a program to reduce the impact of stress and risk on infants due to neglect or inattention. The project focuses on parents and daycare providers caring for children from birth to four years old and their families.  Children are entering the day care system at younger ages than ever before, and spending longer hours at these centers.  Day care providers play an important role in early intervention and prevention for these infants.

In collaboration with Community Coordinated Child Care, JFS will train day care providers throughout the community to increase awareness of the important role teachers play in stimulating early brain development and developing social and emotional skills. These trainings also help teachers identify families at risk for difficulties in bonding between parents and infants and provide skills to teachers to reach out to families. These services will include group trainings and additional follow up consultation in individual day care center.

Bonding and attaachment between infants and adults are the foundation for children's cognitive and emotional development. Repeated exposure to stress resulting from insecure interactions between a parent and infant can inhibit normal brain development, thus preventing the child from reaching his or her cognitive potential. Impairment in bonding also can cause long term impairment in social emotional development, a key predictor of success in school.

President and CEO Sylvan Leabman views this new opportunity as "a necessary extension of existing Jewish Family Services programs geared towards providing early intervention and prevention programs to children and families at risk. We are continuing to expand our long tradition of providing services to a multicultural population through the Milwaukee community. We are grateful for the support from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation which has allowed JFS to initiate this needed program."

For almost 140 years, Jewish Family Services has provided comprehensive social services to the Milwaukee area Jewish and general community. Its primary objective is to enable clients to reach their maximum potential and lead fulfilled and rewarding lives.