Prof. Menachem Monnickendam

Prof. Menachem Monnickendam began his career as a field social worker. This is reflected in his current research. He has fulfilled a variety of professional and public functions including participation as a member of the National Commission on Fighting Poverty, founding dean of the school of Social Work at the Ashkelon Academic College, and past president of ESPANET-Israel (the Israel Association of Social Policy Research). He has taught and researched in Israel and abroad and publishes extensively both in professional and popular media. His current research deals with service utilization of people living in poverty; the development of multidimensional poverty measures, and human and medical service personnel's perceptions of people living in poverty. Additional research focusses on the design of better functioning human services that are poor friendly and provide optimal services - within their limited means - through a system of prioritizing needs and rationing of services. He is currently founding director of "Maanim" (Solutions) - the Center for Applied Poverty Research in Israel. The center aims at assessing existing anti-poverty programs; formulating and publicizing guidelines for sound practice of anti-poverty programs and educating both professionals and the general public on the application of its research findings to effective practice

Education

1973 - B.A.: Hebrew University, Jerusalem, School of Social Work

1979 - M.A.: Bar Ilan University, School of Social Work

1983 - Ph.D.: University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work

Academic & other positions

2015: Founding Director, Maanim, The Center for Applied Poverty Research in Israel

2013-2014: Founding Co-Director, The Social Sciences Faculty Unit for Poverty Research

2003-2004: Honorary Visiting Fellow, Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research, University of Bristol, UK.

1994-2001: Founding Director, School of Social Work, Ashkelon Academic College

1991-1992: Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Social Work Rutgers University. New Brunswick, NJ

Professional-public service 

Grant Reviewer

Various periods          

Research Proposal Reviewer: Israel Science Foundation

Fifth Research and Development Framework Plan of European Union, Brussels

Editorial Activities and Reviewer

Various periods          

Editorial Board, Journal of Technology in Human Services

Child Maltreatment

Computers in Human Behavior

Computers in Human Services

Megamot(Trends)

Journal of European Social Policy

Journal of Policy History

Journal of Technology in Human Services

Social Policy & Administration

Social Security

Society and Welfare

Iyunim Betkumat Israel (Studies in Israeli and Modern Jewish Society)

Committees and Consultations

2014: National Commission for War on Poverty

2012-present: National Commission for the Reform of the Local Social Services. Sub Committee on Human Resources, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services

2008-present: National Commission for the Reform of the Local Social Services. Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services

1999-present: Social Welfare Policy Program, Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel

2009-2011: The Committee for Strengthening Community Involvement of Students and Faculty, Bar Ilan University

2001-2011: The Rappaport Center for Assimilation Research and Strengthening Jewish Vitality, Bar Ilan University

2000-2011: The Nathan O. Hurwich Chair for Community Services, Bar Ilan University

2007-2012: Tel Aviv Municipality, Department of Social Services: Family Poverty Reducing Measures

2006: The Tel Aviv/Los Angeles Partnership: Poverty Task Force Consultations

2006-2011: Award Committee of the Recanati-Chais-Rashi Award for Entrepreneur Social Workers

2005-2012: Advisory Committee to Minister of Social Affairs and Social Services – Council of Social Work

2001: Advisory committee, Social Survey, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

2001-2004: Advisory committee, Longitudinal Poverty Measurement, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

2000-2003: Board member, Not for Profit Service for Dutch Elderly Living in Israel

1998-2001: National Council for Fighting Poverty and Social Inequality, coordinator of social policy

1989-1991: Steering Committee, Israel Center of Municipal Policy

1980-1987: Chair and Implementation Consultant to Steering Committee of Jerusalem Municipal Association for Neighborhood Self-Management

1985-1988: Committee for Restructuring, Committee for International Relations, Israel National Association of Social Workers, member

1984-1996: Israel Defense Forces, Mental Health Department: Design and implementation of Computerized Clinical Information System

Professional Affiliations (various periods)

ESPANET ISRAEL, Founding member, Past Chair

SPA, Social Policy Association, UK

SSWR, The Society for Social Work and Research, US

IASW, Israel Association of Social Workers, Commission of Reorganization, Commission of Social Policy.

HUSITA, Human Service Information Technology Applications, US. Board, International Advisory Board; Founder and Coordinator of Area Group, Israel.

CSWE, Council on Social Work Education, US

ISTR, The International Society for Third-Sector Research, US

ENITH, European Network for Information Technology and Human Services, Member Executive Committee – Israel

Grants Funded

2013: Prioritizing target populations. Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services

2010: Local social services in Israel in international perspective. Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services.

2007/8: Service provision to poor people in local social services. Ministry of Welfare.

2006: Social workers' perceptions of poverty and service provision. Funded by Ben Gurion University of the Negev (with Ch. Katz)

2005: Health professionals' perceptions of poverty and service provision.  Funded by The Israel Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research (with M.S. Monnickendam).

2003/4: Cross National Poverty Research in The UK and Israel. Funded by The British Academy (with D. Gordon).

2003: The relationship between services for the poor and perceptions of poverty. Funded by the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel (with Y. Katan).

2002: Health professionals’ perceptions of poverty. Rotter Fund.

2000: Poverty measurement in Israel. Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel.

1997: Evaluation of a computerized decision support system for youth probation officers. Ministry of Welfare (with R. Savaya and M. Weisman) 

Major Faculty Activities

2008-2012: Director, Graduate Studies

1998-2012: Coordinator, Management and Community Organization Graduate Studies

1991-2015: Graduate Studies Committee

1988, 1995-2015: Member, Advisory Committee to Dean

2005-2007, 1992-1995: Member, B.A. Committee

1988-1992: Coordinator, Social Policy and Computer Areas

1991: Chair, Task Force, Skills Laboratories Project

1990: Coordinator, Task Force, Undergraduate Program Evaluation