Metro
Moving Forward
After 20 years of aiding the mentally ill, Kadima eyes future growth.
RONELLE GRIER
Special to the Jewish News
chronic depression. Counseling and support for
the clients' families is an important component.
Other programs include Kadima Plus, a part-
nership with Jewish Family Service that helps
seniors with mental illness to continue to live
independently and a supported employment pro-
gram in conjunction with JVS and the Michigan
Department of Career Development-
Rehabilitation Services.
EE
QIN
9/24
2004
22
ava Leichtman of Pontiac describes her
mental illness as a "monster" that had
invaded her life and that of her family,
making it impossible for her to function within
her normal living environment. When she felt she
had nowhere else to turn, she turned to Kadima,
now celebrating its 20th anniversary, which pro-
vided the safe haven and support she needed to
regain her equilibrium and begin to function
effectively within her family and her community.
"When Hava was at her lowest point, sick with
depression and self-medicating with drugs and
alcohol, I was advised that the best thing was to
remove her from our home," said Leichtman's
mother, Gail Katz of West Bloomfield, who serves
as secretary on Kadima's board of directors.
"It broke my heart, but Kadima helped me find
the strength to do what was necessary for her and
for myself. That was when she began her recovery.
Now she's working on her degree at Oakland
University, earning four-point grades. I feel that I
owe Kadima for the rest of the my life."
Twenty years ago, Leichtman and many others
like her would not have been so fortunate. State
institutions were closing, and hundreds of people
with psychiatric disabilities found themselves
homeless or relegated to substandard living condi-
tions.
Local Rabbi Solomon Gruskin decided some-
thing had to be done to help the many Jewish
people who were suffering from this plight. He
called Rhoda Raderman, who was working at JVS
in Detroit.
"Rabbi Gruskin wanted me to see how 'our'
people were living," said Raderman, who lives in
West Bloomfield. "We visited some of the group
homes and adult foster care facilities. When I saw
the deplorable conditions, it broke my heart. I
agreed we had to do something."
The pair met with a small group of individuals,
which included Janet Aronoff of Bloomfield Hills,
and founded Kadima, which is the Hebrew word
for "moving forward." Together, the group provid-
ed the resources to open the first Kadima resi-
dence, the Gruskin Home in Southfield.
"We wanted to establish residential care that
was dignified and humane, where the clients
could practice their Judaism," said Raderman.
Today, Kadima has 15 group homes through-
out Metro Detroit, four of which were opened
during 2003. Two of the homes are geared for
young adults ages 17-25.
The Southfield-based organization also offers a
supported living program and a variety of other
services for more than 175 clients who have been
diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or
A Great Need
According to Executive Director Janette Shallal,
80 percent of homeless people and 35 percent of
those who are incarcerated have some form of
mental illness.
"Many of our clients have hit rock bottom by
the time they get to us," said Shallal. "They're
not living in the real world. You have to start
from the very beginning. It takes a lot of people
and a tremendous amount of energy to get them
back on their feet, but it's amazing what a little
`TLC' can do to improve someone's dignity and
quality of life."
"Our strength is reflected in our tremendous
growth over the last 20 years, from one group
home to 15, from a small group of consumers to
more than 175 individuals and their families,"
said D. Michael Kratchman of Bloomfield Hills,
current president of Kadima's board of directors.
"Our challenge is to secure the future so that we
can continue to provide for the growing list of
people who desperately need our services."
"The first onset of mental illness is usually
between the ages of 18 and 25, and most people
don't understand what's happening," said Shallal.
"Community awareness and education are
important parts of our mission."
Upcoming Plans
From top: Young adult parlor meeting speaker Hava Leichtman
poses with Kadima Executive Director Janette Shallal.
Co-chairs for Kadima's 20th anniversary celebration staring the
Capitol Steps are Richard and Lynne Ludwig of Huntington
Woods- and Elyse and Brian Kolender of Bloomfield Township.
Sheri Ketai of Franklin, host of the young adult parlor meeting,
poses with Elyse and Brian Kolender and Janette Shallal.
• To further that goal, Kadima is sponsoring a
conference on "The Mental Health Challenges of
the University Student" on Friday, Oct. 29, in
partnership with Wayne State University's
Department of Counseling and Psychological
Services at the WSU Oakland Center on 12 Mile
Road in Farmington Hills.
Speakers will cover a variety of topics, includ-
ing teenage suicide, eating disorders, addiction,
depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive dis-
orders.
• The organization will celebrate its 20th
anniversary at various events throughout the year,
most notably at the annual fund-raiser on Sept.
28 at the State Theatre in Detroit, featuring the
political satire troupe, the Capitol Steps.
• Plans for the future include the opening of
more residences and the Lois and Milton