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INTRAC Israel

What Is INTRAC Israel? INTRAC (International Network for Research on Transitions to Adulthood from Care) is a global network active in more than 25 countries, advancing comparative research and shared knowledge on young people transitioning from care to independent life. INTRAC Israel, hosted by Yeladim, connects academic institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and care alumni. […]

Background

The transition from out-of-home care to independent adulthood is one of the most decisive and complex turning points in the lives of young people without family support.
Research in Israel and worldwide consistently shows that care leavers face disproportionate challenges in education, employment, relationships, and early parenthood. At the same time, evidence also highlights what improves outcomes: sustained emotional support, stable adult relationships during the transition period, and structured policy responses.
In recent years, Israel has made meaningful progress. New housing, employment, and education programs have been developed, and government ministries – together with civil society organizations, including Yeladim – Fair Chance for Children – are working to improve long-term outcomes.
Yet critical gaps remain, particularly in areas such as self-image, belonging, family relationships, and early parenting.
Recognizing the need to ground practice in evidence and lived experience, Yeladim established INTRAC Israel as the national research and knowledge hub focused on care leavers — ensuring that field experience informs research, and research directly strengthens policy and practice.

Yeladim - Fair Chance for Children

What Is INTRAC Israel?

INTRAC (International Network for Research on Transitions to Adulthood from Care) is a global network active in more than 25 countries, advancing comparative research and shared knowledge on young people transitioning from care to independent life.

INTRAC Israel, hosted by Yeladim, connects academic institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and care alumni. It serves as a bridge between international research and the Israeli field.

Its mission is clear:
to identify what works, translate research into practical tools and policy, and promote evidence-based solutions that improve real-life outcomes for care leavers.

By anchoring the branch within Yeladim – an organization working daily with thousands of children and care alumni – INTRAC Israel ensures that research remains closely tied to lived reality and system-level change.

 

How We Work

INTRAC Israel convenes several times a year to define research priorities and foster cross-sector collaboration with government ministries, universities, and frontline organizations. Meetings bring together senior researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and care alumni- ensuring that knowledge development reflects both academic rigor and lived experience.

Representatives of INTRAC Israel participate in international INTRAC conferences and research forums, contributing Israeli insights to global dialogue and bringing international knowledge back to strengthen local systems.

Founding Team

The Israeli branch was established by a leading group of researchers and practitioners in the field of out-of-home care and transitions to adulthood:

Dr. Tehila Rafely
Edna Glebokci
Prof. Emanuel Grupper
Prof. Shimon Shapiro
Dr. Yafit Suleimani-Aidan
Dr. Haim Lehav
Dr. Eran Melkman
Dr. Talia Schwartz-Tayri

INTRAC Israel also includes a dedicated subgroup for early-career researchers – master’s students, doctoral candidates, and researchers within three years of completing their PhD – led by Netanel Haddad (Ben-Gurion University) and Hadas Lotan (Tel Aviv University).

Goals of INTRAC Israel

INTRAC Israel promotes high-quality, applied research focused on care leavers in Israel. Its objectives include:

• Advancing collaborative research among Israeli scholars working in out-of-home care and transitions to adulthood
• Supporting early-career researchers and graduate students through mentorship frameworks and scholarship initiatives
• Encouraging collaboration between care institutions and researchers to improve service quality
• Expanding dedicated funding streams and research calls in this field
• Increasing the visibility of Israeli research nationally and internationally through publications and conferences
• Making research findings accessible to policymakers, professionals, and social organizations
• Promoting evidence-based policy and legislation through research-informed advocacy and partnerships

Yeladim - Fair Chance for Children

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ניוזלטר INTRAC
 

הצטרפו לניוזלטר של INTRAC ישראל ויהיו חלק מקהילת החוקרים והעוסקים בתחום.

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