Jewish Engagement from Birth: A Blueprint for Outreach to New Jewish Families Mark I. Rosen, Ph.D. Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University Prepared for CAJE St. Louis, Missouri August 7, 2007 Photo Courtesy of Stroum JCC

Baby Demographics Across the country, approximately 50,000 babies are born each year to families with two Jewish parents figure represents approximately 1% of the Jewish population The number of babies born to intermarried couples is impossible to estimate

Across the country, approximately 50,000 babies are born each year to families with two Jewish parents

figure represents approximately 1% of the Jewish population

The number of babies born to intermarried couples is impossible to estimate

The Jewish Future How many of these families will end up being connected to community institutions? How many of these children will attend Jewish preschools, congregational schools, or day schools? How many of these children will grow up with a Jewish identity?

How many of these families will end up being connected to community institutions?

How many of these children will attend Jewish preschools, congregational schools, or day schools?

How many of these children will grow up with a Jewish identity?

The Challenge What can the organized Jewish community do to: provide support to these parents? encourage them to raise their children with a Jewish identity? connect them to Jewish institutions?

What can the organized Jewish community do to:

provide support to these parents?

encourage them to raise their children with a Jewish identity?

connect them to Jewish institutions?

National Study Funded by: Helen Bader Foundation Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation Two basic questions: Regarding parents: What do Jewish parents with young children want? Regarding programs: What are the best programs around the country? Answered through: site visits to ten communities focus groups interviews with Jewish professionals, experts, and businesses/nonprofits that cater to parents with young children

Funded by:

Helen Bader Foundation

Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

Two basic questions:

Regarding parents: What do Jewish parents with young children want?

Regarding programs: What are the best programs around the country?

Answered through:

site visits to ten communities

focus groups

interviews with Jewish professionals, experts, and businesses/nonprofits that cater to parents with young children

What Do Parents Want? Information about how to be a better parent A value system to raise their children Friendships with other parents A place to go outside of the house A place where they can have fun with their infants and toddlers Unengaged Jewish parents are very similar to other parents The secret to engagement is to give them what they want in a Jewish setting

Information about how to be a better parent

A value system to raise their children

Friendships with other parents

A place to go outside of the house

A place where they can have fun with their infants and toddlers

Unengaged Jewish parents are very similar to other parents

The secret to engagement is to give them what they want in a Jewish setting

A Window of Opportunity Life changes dramatically when a couple has their first baby; normal routines are disrupted Finances, work, identity, and relationships are all affected It takes about two years until parents are comfortable in their new routine and lifestyle During this time, parents are very receptive The Jewish community has a window of opportunity to reach parents who have not previously been interested in Judaism The window tends to close around the time their child turns two

Life changes dramatically when a couple has their first baby; normal routines are disrupted

Finances, work, identity, and relationships are all affected

It takes about two years until parents are comfortable in their new routine and lifestyle

During this time, parents are very receptive

The Jewish community has a window of opportunity to reach parents who have not previously been interested in Judaism

The window tends to close around the time their child turns two

Where Do Parents Go For Information About Parenting? Many sources: The Internet, classes/workshops, friends, the baby’s grandparents, books, parenting magazines Most are secular If Jewish organizations provide parenting information, parents will: develop a positive view of the community make Jewish friends learn about Jewish tradition

Many sources:

The Internet, classes/workshops, friends, the baby’s grandparents, books, parenting magazines

Most are secular

If Jewish organizations provide parenting information, parents will:

develop a positive view of the community

make Jewish friends

learn about Jewish tradition

Parents Want to Make Friends With Other Parents Many parents have relocated and do not have extended family in the communities where they now live The desire to make friends is often the biggest motivation to attend programs If parents attend Jewish programs, they will make Jewish friends instead of non-Jewish friends Jewish friends lead to Jewish choices

Many parents have relocated and do not have extended family in the communities where they now live

The desire to make friends is often the biggest motivation to attend programs

If parents attend Jewish programs, they will make Jewish friends instead of non-Jewish friends

Jewish friends lead to Jewish choices

Peers Can Influence Educational Choices “ [When we] moved to Seattle a year and a half ago… we randomly met this woman… and she said you have to [send your children to] the JCC preschool… that’s actually how we met our community of Jewish friends.” - Seattle parent

“ [When we] moved to Seattle a year and a half ago… we randomly met this woman… and she said you have to [send your children to] the JCC preschool… that’s actually how we met our community of Jewish friends.”

- Seattle parent

When Parents Select a Preschool It Is Their First Opportunity to Make a Jewish Educational Choice Choice Availability of Openings Preschool Cost Hours and Location Preschool Quality Friends’ Advice

What Are the Most Important Considerations When Choosing a Preschool? Location, hours, and quality are primary Jewish sponsorship and cost are usually secondary Parents rely mainly on peers to assess quality

Location, hours, and quality are primary

Jewish sponsorship and cost are usually secondary

Parents rely mainly on peers to assess quality

Peers Can Influence Choice of a Religion for Children of Mixed Marriages “ I think the issue with mixed marriages is that people don’t know how they are going to raise their kids until they start going to preschool and they start meeting other families…” - Boston parent

“ I think the issue with mixed marriages is that people don’t know how they are going to raise their kids until they start going to preschool and they start meeting other families…”

- Boston parent

Influencing the Intermarried Many intermarried couples avoid discussions about their child’s religion The issue becomes harder to avoid as children grow older and start asking questions Mommy, am I Christmas or Chanukah? If non-Jewish spouses have positive Jewish experiences, they will be more inclined to agree to raise a Jewish child Jewish peers can influence this decision Jewish mothers appear to be more likely to make this choice than Jewish fathers

Many intermarried couples avoid discussions about their child’s religion

The issue becomes harder to avoid as children grow older and start asking questions

Mommy, am I Christmas or Chanukah?

If non-Jewish spouses have positive Jewish experiences, they will be more inclined to agree to raise a Jewish child

Jewish peers can influence this decision

Jewish mothers appear to be more likely to make this choice than Jewish fathers

What Are Communities Currently Doing for Parents? Four major types of programs Prenatal education programs Shalom Baby gift basket programs Jewish education programs for parents Infant/toddler programs and parenting centers in JCCs and synagogues Sponsored by Federation, JCC, Jewish Family Services, Board of Jewish Education, Synagogues, Chabad

Four major types of programs

Prenatal education programs

Shalom Baby gift basket programs

Jewish education programs for parents

Infant/toddler programs and parenting centers in JCCs and synagogues

Sponsored by

Federation, JCC, Jewish Family Services, Board of Jewish Education, Synagogues, Chabad

Prenatal Education Programs Content Judaism, pregnancy, and childbirth Often co-taught by rabbis/Jewish educators and childbirth experts Groups often continue to stay in touch after babies are born Primarily attracts the already affiliated Hard to find a large enough group of expectant parents in the same trimester of pregnancy Model program: Rose Community Hospital - Denver

Content

Judaism, pregnancy, and childbirth

Often co-taught by rabbis/Jewish educators and childbirth experts

Groups often continue to stay in touch after babies are born

Primarily attracts the already affiliated

Hard to find a large enough group of expectant parents in the same trimester of pregnancy

Model program:

Rose Community Hospital - Denver

Shalom Baby Programs Gift basket for new parents from JCC or Federation Programs in 30 communities Goals Find unengaged parents Provide a warm personal welcome Inform them about follow-up programs Invite them to join Jewish playgroups Model programs: Lawrence Family JCC - San Diego St. Louis JCC Robert Loup JCC - Denver

Gift basket for new parents from JCC or Federation

Programs in 30 communities

Goals

Find unengaged parents

Provide a warm personal welcome

Inform them about follow-up programs

Invite them to join Jewish playgroups

Model programs:

Lawrence Family JCC - San Diego

St. Louis JCC

Robert Loup JCC - Denver

Keys to Success Find a funder who “gets it” Hire a devoted, passionate, charismatic staff person to do it full-time Create a comprehensive baby-finding infrastructure utilize obstetricians and pediatricians develop a network of “informants” consisting of parents and Jewish professionals Involve all of the Jewish organizations in the community

Find a funder who “gets it”

Hire a devoted, passionate, charismatic staff person to do it full-time

Create a comprehensive baby-finding infrastructure

utilize obstetricians and pediatricians

develop a network of “informants” consisting of parents and Jewish professionals

Involve all of the Jewish organizations in the community

Keys to Success (continued) Make extensive use of peer volunteers to welcome parents and provide community information Enter information about parents into a database Send regular follow-up emails about events: sponsored by the JCC, Jewish Family Services, synagogues, Chabad the more options parents have, the better No solicitations for two years

Make extensive use of peer volunteers to welcome parents and provide community information

Enter information about parents into a database

Send regular follow-up emails about events:

sponsored by the JCC, Jewish Family Services, synagogues, Chabad

the more options parents have, the better

No solicitations for two years

Jewish Education Programs Variety of multi-session programs for parents or families Offered by a variety of institutions Difficult to get unengaged parents, especially those with young children, to sign up for a multi-session adult education course Child care is a must Model program: Ikkarim - Boston

Variety of multi-session programs for parents or families

Offered by a variety of institutions

Difficult to get unengaged parents, especially those with young children, to sign up for a multi-session adult education course

Child care is a must

Model program:

Ikkarim - Boston

Infant/Toddler Programs Attended by both parent/nanny and child Offer: Speakers on issues of concern to parents Support groups and mentoring Tot Shabbat/Jewish holiday programs Activities (music, crafts, baby massage) Main draws Information about how to be a better parent Friendships with other parents A place to go outside of the house A place to have fun with infants and toddlers

Attended by both parent/nanny and child

Offer:

Speakers on issues of concern to parents

Support groups and mentoring

Tot Shabbat/Jewish holiday programs

Activities (music, crafts, baby massage)

Main draws

Information about how to be a better parent

Friendships with other parents

A place to go outside of the house

A place to have fun with infants and toddlers

Parenting Centers “ One-stop shopping” for a variety of infant/toddler programs About 25 in JCCs around the country About 15 in synagogues Many have drop-in facilities Some programs attract hundreds Model programs: Harry and Rose Samson JCC - Milwaukee Stroum JCC Parenting Center –Seattle Manhattan JCC

“ One-stop shopping” for a variety of infant/toddler programs

About 25 in JCCs around the country

About 15 in synagogues

Many have drop-in facilities

Some programs attract hundreds

Model programs:

Harry and Rose Samson JCC - Milwaukee

Stroum JCC Parenting Center –Seattle

Manhattan JCC

What Should We Be Doing to Engage More Parents? Plan as a community and involve all relevant community institutions Work to overcome institutional barriers Recognize that the real competition is with secular institutions, not other Jewish institutions Make sure there are programs for each stage of parenthood: Prenatal programs prior to birth Shalom Baby visits at birth Infant/toddler programs/Jewish education after birth

Plan as a community and involve all relevant community institutions

Work to overcome institutional barriers

Recognize that the real competition is with secular institutions, not other Jewish institutions

Make sure there are programs for each stage of parenthood:

Prenatal programs prior to birth

Shalom Baby visits at birth

Infant/toddler programs/Jewish education after birth

Recommendations Make sure parents have lots of options Offer a variety of programs – no single program will have universal appeal Offer a range of Jewish content – some want rich Jewish learning, while others are not interested in learning about Judaism Offer programs in a variety of venues – some will prefer synagogues while others will be more comfortable at the JCC or a parent’s home

Make sure parents have lots of options

Offer a variety of programs – no single program will have universal appeal

Offer a range of Jewish content – some want rich Jewish learning, while others are not interested in learning about Judaism

Offer programs in a variety of venues – some will prefer synagogues while others will be more comfortable at the JCC or a parent’s home

Recommendations Do a better job of finding the babies Partner with secular experts so that: programs are cutting edge program reach is expanded Make sure that those who work with parents are carefully selected and trained Utilize the Internet To connect parents with each other To provide information about programs, local resources, and Jewish tradition

Do a better job of finding the babies

Partner with secular experts so that:

programs are cutting edge

program reach is expanded

Make sure that those who work with parents are carefully selected and trained

Utilize the Internet

To connect parents with each other

To provide information about programs, local resources, and Jewish tradition

Recommendations Emphasize relationships between parents and Jewish professionals between parents and peers Parents should have lots of opportunities to connect with peers Create multiple opportunities to meet and socialize Most mothers join playgroups – facilitate the creation of Jewish playgroups Identify, cultivate, and develop mommies with leadership potential in each neighborhood

Emphasize relationships

between parents and Jewish professionals

between parents and peers

Parents should have lots of opportunities to connect with peers

Create multiple opportunities to meet and socialize

Most mothers join playgroups – facilitate the creation of Jewish playgroups

Identify, cultivate, and develop mommies with leadership potential in each neighborhood

Recommendations Be sensitive to non-traditional families parents who adopt single parents Hire a “Birth to Three” community coordinator to facilitate cooperation across institutions and agencies Make parents a greater community priority The Jewish future is at risk if children don’t grow up with a Jewish identity

Be sensitive to non-traditional families

parents who adopt

single parents

Hire a “Birth to Three” community coordinator to facilitate cooperation across institutions and agencies

Make parents a greater community priority

The Jewish future is at risk if children don’t grow up with a Jewish identity

For More Information… Jewish Engagement from Birth: A Blueprint for Outreach to First-Time Parents can be downloaded at: www.cmjs.org/parents Dr. Rosen can be reached at: [email_address]

Jewish Engagement from Birth: A Blueprint for Outreach to First-Time Parents

can be downloaded at:

www.cmjs.org/parents

Dr. Rosen can be reached at:

[email_address]