ASSESSMENTS

1. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENTS

2. What are psychosocial assessments? Tools that help to find facts about psychosocial wellbeing and psychosocial needs Measure and report impact of disaster / crisis on population (reactions, needs and resources) – including impact on psychosocial wellbeing and coping Help to identify vulnerable sub-groups Guide the ‘where, when, what and how’ to planning and implementing a psychosocial intervention PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT

3. Why are assessments needed? All disaster and crises events are unique Impact– people (physical, social, emotional) environment, infrastructure, economic, political, cultural Affected population – number, ages, gender Reactions of – people, government, NGOs (local / international), other assisting bodies Needs– basic needs, psychosocial, medical, educational Resources available – people, economic, political, local and international assistance, etc. Opportunities for responses PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT

4. Why are assessments needed? PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Assumptions Inappropriate Unrealistic psychosocial Interventions Psychosocial Assessments Realistic Appropriate Well-planned Psychosocial Interventions

5. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Two types of assessments Needs assessments: explore impact of event; reactions, needs and resources of affected population Examples • Rapid assessments • In-depth (detailed) detailed assessments • Continuous assessments (monitoring)

6. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Types of assessments Impact assessments: collects data that can be used to measure impact of psychosocial intervention / response • Baseline study • Continuous assessments (monitoring) • Mid-term evaluations • Final evaluations

7. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Psychosocial needs assessments foci • Demographics: who, where, population characteristics • Impact of event: physical, social, emotional • Problems: present and future • Resources and capacities: to help themselves and each other (coping mechanisms) • Assistance needed

8. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Psychosocial impact assessments foci • Demographics: who, where, population characteristics • Impact of event: physical, social, emotional (past and present) • Problems: Past, present and future • Resources and capacities: to help themselves and each other (coping mechanisms) before and now • Assistance given already and still needed

9. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Impact assessments help us to determine • Impact of psychosocial intervention=desired impact or not? • Improved psychosocial well-being? • Need for adaptation of psychosocial intervention/response?

10. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT When are assessments done?

11. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Rapid assessments • Immediately after a disaster • Collaborated effort between responders (desired) • Preparation for immediate and urgent response • Primary focus – survival: basic and medical needs Examples: Field and assessments coordination teams (FACT) and Regional Disaster Response Teams (RDRT)

12. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Rapid assessments Psychosocial foci Shock, disorientation, major and minor distress, immediate concerns, loss of ‘sense of place’ • Typical response • Psychological First Aid • Restoring family links • Restoration of ‘sense of normality’ • “Normal reactions to abnormal events”

13. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Example of assessment timeline

14. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Detailed assessments • Weeks or even months after crisis event • Motivated by indication of psychosocial needs • Analysis of community structures and opportunities for long term psychosocial interventions Focus is on realistic, appropriate long-term interventions

15. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Example of assessment timeline

16. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Baseline study • What is a baseline study? • What is it used for? • Has anyone been involved in designing or collecting data for a baseline study?

17. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Baseline study • Designed and undertaken AFTER the intervention has been planned • Used to provide BASELINE or FIRST SET of data to compare future monitoring and evaluation with • Important tool for mid-term and final evaluations • Measures INDICATORS of psychosocial wellbeing – that are then measured again later

18. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Example of assessment timeline

19. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Continuous assessments • Used for monitoring purposes • Keep track of progress and challenges • Provide guidance for needed adaptation

20. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Evaluations • Mid-term and final • Focus on past, present and future • Larger and often more costly than other assessments • Valuable information to donors, program managers, participants and beneficiaries, progressing field of PSS.

21. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT How to conductassessments • Two main types of data collected Quantitative Qualitative Surveys Key informant interviews Questionnaires Focus Group Discussions Psychometric tools Observations 1,2,3 Word descriptions =, %, a:b

22. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT How to conductassessments In small groups discuss the two qualitative data collection methods given below, answering the given questions. Focus group discussions Community mapping What are they? How do you ‘do’ them? Why are they useful in psychosocial interventions? What considerations should you make regarding GENDER and AGE of participants in these methods, and WHY?

23. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Exploring psychosocial wellbeing Contextually, culturally defined MEANING of psychosocial wellbeing typically differs from Population A to Population B Buzz groups: Can you think of different populations that you know, where the meaning of psychosocial wellbeing differs?

24. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Exploring psychosocial wellbeing Example questions: • How do you know when people in your community are doing well? Not doing well? (meaning of PSWB) • How are they doing now? (PSS needs) • What has changed in your daily life and in the community following the crisis event? (meaning and needs) • How are people helping each other? (coping, social support systems)

25. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Exploring psychosocial wellbeing • What were the good things in your life prior to the crisis event? (meaning of PSWB, PSS needs) • What changes would be desirable for you and for your community in the next month and within a year? (meaning of PSWB, PSS needs) • What would be good for the children? (meaning of PSWB, PSS needs) • How can you and your community contribute towards such changes? (coping, resources)

26. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Examples of focus areas in PSS assesments

27. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data Who provides the information?

28. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data Who provides the information?

29. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data Ethical principals to data collection • Well planned and justifiable • Coordination • Clarifying aims and procedures • Participatory and collaborative

30. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data Ethical principals to data collection • Comparison groups • Conduct and consent • Privacy and confidentially • Anticipate adverse consequences

31. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Interviewingchildren Ethical principals to data collection with children • Inform community • Consent from caregiver AND child • Interview in safe spaces • Specific training for working with children

32. PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Assessment analysis and action