This is a national survey aimed at exploring the incidence and prevalence of risk in the child general population aged 0-18 years old in Israel. For the purpose of this study, children at risk were defined as those being in a direct risk such as abuse and neglect and children that are subjected to indirect risk such as poverty, family distress and witnessing abuse and/or drug use. More specifically we study the proportion of direct, indirect and potential risk, the characteristics of risk in terms of severity, duration, frequency and consequences. We attempt to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of families in which children at risk live and its geographical distribution in the country. The study also surveys the availability of services for children at risk.

The survey was conducted among a representative sample of the Israeli population including different ethnic, national and religious groups (n=3000). In each household an adult woman was interviewed and asked to provide information about one randomly selected child. The instrument was a survey questionnaire including about 200 questions administered in face to face interviews by trained interviewers at the informant's place of residence. We are in the final stages of data collection.

Duration of Research: 2000-2001

Funding Agency: Haifa Municipality and the University of Haifa.

Researcher:
Gustavo S. Mesch

Project Description:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of immigrant motivations, perceptions of attitudes of the host society, acculturation and socioeconomic factors on living in an area with a high percentage of immigrants, the establishment of social ties with members of the local population and voting patterns in the local elections.. Data for the study was collected in 1999 through a survey of a stratified sample of Russian immigrants that arrived to Israel after 1989. Participants were selected according to different levels of residential segregation in the city of Haifa. in one city.

Publications:

Mesch, Gustavo, S. (2002). Between Spatial and Social Segregation among Immigrants: The Case of Immigrants from the FSU in Israel. International Migration Review, 36(3):912-934.

Mesch, Gustavo S. (2002). Residential Concentration and Participation in Local Politics:The case of Immigrants of the FSU in Israel. Journal of International Migration and Integration. 3: 157-177.

Mesch, Gustavo S. (2003) Language Proficiency among New Immigrants: The role of Human Capital and Societal Conditions. The Case of Immigrants from the FSU in Israel. Sociological Perspectives, 46(1): 41-58.

Mesch Gustavo and Rita Mano. 2006. Housing Attainment of Immigrants from the FSU in Israel: A cost-benefit Approach. Housing Studies.

Mesch, Gustavo (Forthcoming). Residential Concentration and Place attachment among Immigrants from the FSU in Israel. In Ray Hutchison and Jerome Krase (editors) Research In Urban Sociology: Race and Ethnicity .Elsevier Press. Approximate 20 pp.

Duration of Research: 1997-2001

Funding Agency: German Research Foundation (DFG)

Researchers: 
Gideon Fishman (P.I.)
Zvi Eisikovits (P.I.)
Guy Enosh (P.I.)

Collaborator:
Prof. Dr. Hans Oswald, University of Potsdam

Project Description:
The project followed the development of political attitudes and behaviors of adolescents over a 4 year period, as well as their group of peers and their parents. This is a longitudinal, comparative and cross-national study exploring the patterns of political socialization and participation of adolescents in three cultures: Germany, The Palestinian Authority and Israel.

The aim of this project is to investigate the influence of various socializing contexts such as parents, peer group, educational framework and social and economic background on political attitudes, socialization and involvement. The data was collected among a national representative sample of high school students in Germany, Palestinian Authority and Israel. The Israeli data includes a sample of 1500 students that was drawn based on cluster sampling by classes. A stratified sample random of 150 classes was derived representing the general, religious, and vocational high schools. From each class 10 children were randomly selected and each respondent was asked to identify his/her best friends. The four best friends were also interviewed. The data was collected during three consecutive years with the same subjects filling in the questionnaire once a year.

Publications:

Fishman G. (2004), "Characteristics of Israeli Society: The Context Youth is Brought Up" (Chapter 3). in Democratic Development : East German, Israeli and Palestinian adolescents. Rebenstorf Hilke (ed.). (Leske & Budrich).

Enosh G. & Katz S. (2004), "The Perstistence of Vision: Interest of Israeli Youth in Social and Political Issues" (Chapter 7). in Democratic Development : East German, Israeli and Palestinian adolescents. Rebenstorf Hilke (ed.). (Leske & Budrich).

Mesch G.S. (2004), "The Apple does not Fall Far from the Tree: Parents' and Children's Support for Violent Political Activities in Israel" (Chapter 11). in Democratic Development : East German, Israeli and Palestinian adolescents. Rebenstorf Hilke (ed.). (Leske & Budrich).

Enosh G. (2004), "The River and the Stream - The Democratic Idea in Israel" (Chapter 15). in Democratic Development : East German, Israeli and Palestinian adolescents. Rebenstorf Hilke (ed.). (Leske & Budrich).