Safety, Wellness & Inclusion

SAFETY, WELLNESS and INCLUSION

BBYO is committed to creating a mentally, emotionally, and physically safe environment for all teens. We strive to build in our teens the ability to face adversity and developmental challenges and thrive.

BBYO welcomes Jewish teens of all backgrounds, denominational affiliation, gender, race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, including those with a range of intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities.

Ensuring Safety & Security

Center for Adolescent Wellness

Inclusion at BBYO

Resources & Information

ENSURING SAFETY & SECURITY

BBYO impacts the lives of tens of thousands of teens every year throughout the international Jewish community. By establishing and normalizing responses to teens at risk, BBYO is helping to ensure and committed to providing a safe and secure environment for allits teens. In order to do so, BBYO has implemented detailed policies that are intended to keep teens within the BBYO Movement mentally, emotionally, and physically safe. Read our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of BBYO teens here.

These protection policies extend beyond the time a teen spends onsite at a BBYO program. When there is concern of a teen being at risk—whether through suspicion of abuse, a mental health concern, suicidal ideation, or something else—BBYO has a responsibility to act. It is imperative that BBYO personnel make the safety of the teens in their care paramount and respond to possible risk in accordance with local laws and the policies set forth in this document.

GET HELP NOW

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

1-800-273-8255 (For U.S.)
Visit Here (For outside U.S.)

The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

For more information visit the official website here.

CRISIS TEXT LINE

Text “Home” to 741741 (For U.S.)
Text “Home” to 686868 (For Canada)
Text "Home" to 85258 (For U.K)
Visit Here (For other countries)

Text from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.

For more information visit the official website here.

TREVOR PROJECT

1-866-488-7386 (Trevor Lifeline)
Text START to 678678 (Trevor Text)

Leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth.

For more information visit the official website here.

Additional mental health support and contact information can be found here.

The BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness

Youth-serving organizations (YSOs) impact the lives of young people in a profound way. They seek to help teens formulate a sense of identity and shape the people they will become. YSOs create welcoming and inclusive environments wherein young people feel safe to share their dreams, emotions, and feelings, making these places ripe for promoting adolescent wellness. To accomplish these goals, teens need spaces that are mentally, emotionally, and physically safe. The BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness seeks to identify and provide best practices in adolescent health and wellness so that YSOs can be places where adolescents thrive.

MEET DREW FIDLER
Director of BBYO’s Center for Adolescent Wellness

Drew is a noted child wellness expert with experience educating, promoting, and implementing policies and practices to support children and adolescents’ physical, mental, and emotional health. She is an honors graduate of NYU Silver School of Social Work and Skidmore College (cum laude), and a licensed clinical social worker. She spent the last six years with the Baltimore Child Abuse Center in Maryland, most recently as the Director of Prevention and Education. Drew has been a key resource for Jewish and non-Jewish camps and youth serving organizations (YSOs) throughout North America, crafting policy and providing support and training to staff on various issues of child protection.

To find out about training, policy development or other wellness initiatives, contact Drew Fidler at [email protected].

INCLUSION AT BBYO

From chapter-based regional activities to BBYO International Convention to leadership development and travel programs around the world, BBYO creates safe and welcoming spaces where teens —all teens—can be themselves. Inclusion and wellness are paramount to fostering these environments and to building Jewish communities that are open and accessible to everyone. Below are some of the initiatives and services we implement, without which many teens would be unable to access BBYO experiences.

Learn more about BBYO’s commitment to inclusion here.

MEET ARI HANDEL
BBYO’s Director of Inclusion

A certified Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer, Ari supports teens throughout all BBYO programs with any needed accommodations, modifications, and support and trains staff and volunteer advisors to ensure that teens’ needs are being met. She has established the first international network of teens who serve on the BBYO Inclusion Committee. Together, the 40 teen leaders and Ari focus on promoting inclusion in several programing areas including LGBTQ+, mental health, disability, global, and more. Ari hires and supervises all wellness staff, including a team of social workers and nurses, at immersive experiences.

To learn how BBYO works with teens to ensure a comfortable, inclusive, and enjoyable atmosphere for all, contact Ari Handel at [email protected].

RESOURCES & INFORMATION

BBYO is constantly working to develop guidelines and resources that help us and our families prioritize and improve the safety and mental health of our community. We invite you to peruse these to learn more and use them to create safe and healthy spaces.

Name	Description	Link
Crisis Hotlines & Support Services	BBYO has curated a go-to list of mental health and wellness support contact information, which you can find here.
Commitment to Safety & Security	BBYO has implemented detailed policies intended to keep teens mentally, emotionally, and physically safe. Read our commitment to safety and security here.
BBYO Community Agreements	The expectations and values that all BBYO participants should abide by to create a positive environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and safe for all.
Wellness Shabbat Ritual Guide	Check out this compilation of beautiful Shabbat rituals and prayers with a mental health focus—from the time we welcome Shabbat on Friday evening through Havdalah on Saturday night.
BBYO Mental Health Resources	Visit our content hub for resources and content curated by teens, including interactive icebreakers, program guides, how-to guides, and general wellness information.
Additional Mental Health Resources	Check out some of our favorite articles, websites, and organizations that focus on mental health and wellness!
Wellness Corner	Interested in the latest on adolescent health and wellness trends? Visit the Wellness Corner in BBYO's Parent Pulse, our bi-monthly newsletter for member parents.
Teen Inclusion Committee	Learn how the teen Inclusion Committee, part of BBYO's International Leadership Network, works to broaden inclusivity support throughout the Movement.
BBYO On Demand	Our new virtual program hub, BBYO On Demand, features a wealth of content, programming and speakers on the topics of mental health, wellness and inclusion.
Article: From Rural Living to Capitol Hill	Read this insightful first-hand account from BBYO member, Ivy Seligman, on Jewish Disability Advocacy Day, where teens meet with lawmakers to advance legislation on issues impacting Jews with differing abilities.
Article: Dismantling Gender Inequality	Read this article about how supporting and empowering young men as allies helps dismantle gender inequality in the Jewish community.
Building Inclusive Programs	Use this comprehensive resource and checklist to think about how you can create programs in BBYO that are accessible and welcoming to all teens.

"The first place I ever felt truly included was BBYO and I am filled with pride over BBYO's commitment to making every teen everywhere feel included. BBYO goes above and beyond to provide an inclusive space for every single participant. If this is what the future of the movement and the Jewish people looks like, I have never been more excited. "

- Dalia D., BBYO alumna, Pacific Western Region

Child Abuse & Harassment

BBYO requires that all personnel REPORT UP to their supervisor and REPORT OUT to the appropriate authorities any suspicion of child abuse or neglect. If you have any reason to suspect child abuse or neglect please contact your local authorities or reach out to BBYO staff for help reporting. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to BBYO’s Center for Adolescent Wellness.

BBYO offers a third-party confidential support line to report harassment or other issues staff or teens may not feel comfortable sharing directly with BBYO executives or staff. To reach the support line call 1-833-480-0010.