About Kadima

History

Kadima is a nonprofit, nonsectarian mental health agency that provides residential and support services for children and adults with mental illness in Oakland County. Kadima is dedicated to maximizing client independence and to promoting reintegration into the community.

Kadima was established in 1984 in response to horrifying and deplorable conditions that existed in the adult foster care system. Kadima’s first group home (Southfield) was funded by five families and this residence continues to provide housing to six adult clients. In 1989, Kadima began to expand its housing services with funding from Oakland County Community Mental Health. Kadima now has 25 homes in the community where clients live in a safe and nurturing environment.

Kadima’s groundbreaking Supported Employment Program was launched in partnership with Jewish Vocational Services. More than two hundred clients have benefitted from this hands-on program in which JVS staff accompany clients to the workplace, guide clients through training and orientation and ensure that clients experience independence while contributing to their own sustenance.

The Kadima Plus Program was established in 1993 in collaboration with Jewish Family Service and Jewish Apartments and Aging Services. This program offers in-home case management services and counseling to the elderly suffering with mental illness.

In 2001, with the support of many generous donors, Kadima successfully completed a $3mm capital campaign and purchased the Henrietta and Herbert Charfoos Kadima Center in Southfield which now houses our administrative and counseling services.

In May 2005, Kadima opened the Lois and Milton Y. Zussman Activity Center in the lower-level of our building. This center provides daily activities such as psycho-educational classes, art lessons, music and craft projects, as well as offering our clients an opportunity for social, recreational and peer interactions. For Kadima’s clients, the activity center is a club of their own; for family members and caregivers, the Zussman center is a much-needed safety net.

During recent years, Kadima has experienced a consistent increase in the number of clients seeking assistance, including requests to provide services to children. In 2007, Kadima established a parent advocacy and support group for parents of children diagnosed with serious emotional disorders. The parent advocacy and support group led Kadima to undertake a survey to 200 southeast Michigan child psychiatrists to assess the need for children’s services. Psychiatrist responses supported that this geographical area lacked proper resources for children which led to Kadima launching a Children’s Services Program in late 2009.

Kadima’s focus has not waivered in the past twenty-five years. Today, Kadima serves more than 200 clients from children aged 3 – 18 years diagnosed with serious mental illness, e.g., ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders to adults diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or chronic depression. Kadima continues its strong commitment to ensure that adult clients with serious mental illness live in decent, stable, affordable and safe housing which promotes integration into the community and that children be given every opportunity to grow into productive and healthy adults. Kadima’s clients are cared for by a staff of over 90 passionate, professional and dedicated staff. Kadima views children and adults with mental illness as entitled to a warm, nurturing environment, which helps them progress to optimal wellness and the potential to be fully integrated members of our community.