Noga Avni, Occupational Therapist, Msc., AVO Manager in Israel
In 2013, JDC-ESHEL, in collaboration with the Validation Training Institute (VTI), brought Validation training to Israel. Today, ESHEL is the only official accredited body for this method in Israel as an Authorized Validation Organization (AV0). Vicki de Klerk-Rubin (Executive Director of VTI and daughter of Naomi Feil, founder of the Validation method) facilitated the first Level 1 Worker Certification course, which took place at our Training Center in Tel Hashomer in 2013.
Since then, we have held courses at various levels: Level 1 Worker course, Level 2 Group Validation, Level 3 Presenters Course, and Level 4 Certified Validation Teacher Course that included a co-teaching requirement. Hundreds of students have participated in the various courses and trainings. Since 2018, Israel has 8 Certified Validation Teachers (CVT), who are active throughout the country, along with another teacher who has been trained abroad and teaches internationally in English. In addition, JDC-ESHEL has translated into Hebrew and published three books by Vicki de Klerk-Rubin and Naomi Feil. These books are available on the JDC website in hard copy and digital format, with great demand.
For the past two and a half years, JDC-ESHEL, together with the Geriatrics Division of the Ministry of Health, has been leading a forum of experts (including professionals in the field of dementia) in developing a dementia training framework. Considering its importance, the Validation method is included in this document as a central method for communicating with people living with dementia. It is also the recommended training for professionals, professional reliance, and family members caring for people with various forms of dementia.
In past years, we have been promoting the Validation training and implementation in Israel in various ways.
▪ Establishing a Validation teacher’s Forum. This forum meets every 3-4 months. Its objectives are to continue shared learning and professional support for teachers, encourage the development of new training programs and necessary knowledge products, and strengthen teachers‘ marketing and training skills.
▪ Training programs for professional staff of day centers in the field. These include introductory presentations, short workshops in geriatric institutions and various community settings, and Validation courses in the institutions themselves.
▪ Webinars. Held to introduce the Validation method to diverse audiences, family caregivers, and professionals in institutions. Hundreds of participants participated in each of these webinars.
▪ Two non-certification courses on the Validation method for staff members in geriatric institutions. The courses aim to familiarize the students with the Validation method and enable them to use the tools applied to the institution itself. These courses were based on the Validation Assistant course developed by Validation Master teacher Hildegard Nahum. They included people from a broad multidisciplinary team (nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, therapists, employment counselors, etc.). Each course was 60 hours long (10 sessions of 6 hours each). The course took place within the institution, and the practical experience occurred with the departments‘ residents.
▪ Introducing the Validation method to Family doctors through continued education and to nurses in different training
In December 2024, we launched a comprehensive training program for day centers that support individuals with cognitive decline. The training introduced Validation to managers first, and then all day center staff participated in an 8-hour training session. After this training, each day center will appoint a “champion agent“ to lead the implementation of the Validation method within the center. They will receive guidance from a Validation teacher to aid in on-the-job implementation.
A Level 1 Worker Certification Course will be completed in April 2025, and 17 new Validation workers will continue their good work with people living with dementia in Israel.
I want to thank Vicki de Klerk and Nancy Brown, CVT, for all the help they generously give us. A big thanks to Mili Blum Zach, the head of our Institute, for understanding the importance of the method.
Noga Avni, Occupational Therapist, Msc., AVO Manager in Israel