The Links between psychosocial Support & child protection

1. The Links between psychosocial Support & child protection Presented at TCRF 3rd annual general meeting Dodoma Tuesday , February 11, 2014 By Peter Massesa

2. Who Are we? The Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) is a non-profit regional organization. REPSSI provides expert assistance on emotional and social (psychosocial) support for children and youth living with the traumatic effects of poverty, conflict, HIV and AIDS. • Involvement with SADC and EAC • Assists organizations to provide quality care and support at community, national, regional and international levels of programming. • moving from what to provide to how to provide it REPSSI believe all children need love, care and protection.

3. Where does repssi work?

4. How do we “do” psychosocial support? • Establishstrategic partnerships with NGOs, development partners and governments. • Train partner NGOs to provide social and emotional services • Produce publications and tools • Run a distance-learning Certificate for community workers

5. Facts and figures on child violence & abuse • Millions of children are victims of violence and exploitation at home, in school, community and streets • 3/4 of both females and males experienced physical violence prior to 18 • 3 in 10 females and approximately 1 in 7 males have experienced sexual violence prior to the age of 18. • 1/4 experienced emotional violence by an adult during childhood • Overlap and linkages between the three forms of violence. (Physical, sexual and Emotional) • Ref VAC study 2011

6. The Right to protection • The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) outlines the fundamental rights of children, including the right to be protected from economic exploitation, harmful work, sexual abuse, physical or mental violence and not be separated from their family against their will. • Tanzania has ratified international and regional Child Rights protocols. • Tanzania enacted the Law of the Child 2009  • launched the National Costed Plan of Action 2 (2012 to 2017).

7. Child protection • Protecting from or against any perceived or real danger or risk to life, personhood and childhood • Reducing vulnerability to any kind of harm and protecting in harmful situations. • Ensuring that no child falls out of the social security and safety net • Those who falls out: receive necessary care, protection and support to bring them back into the safety net.

8. the term “psychosocial”? • The dynamic relationship between psychological and • social effects of experiences of a person’s life continually influencing & interacting each other • SOCIAL WORLD • ( interpersonal) • Social-political environment • Culture • Traditions • Relationships • Roles and tasks • PSYCHOLOGY • (intrapersonal) • Mind • Thoughts • Emotions • Feelings • Behaviors • Spiritual

9. Psychosocial care and support • A continuum nurturing and protection that enhances the emotional, spiritual and mental well-being of a person (intra personal) • Strengthens social and cultural connectedness (inter personal) • Enhances individual, family and community competencies. (skills & knowledge) • Influences both the individual and the social environment in which people live. • PSS is a process delivered on daily bases. • Provided at family, school, friends, community and external social services

10. EFFECTS OF violence, CHILD abuse on PS wellbeing • The impact of abuse and violence carries into adult life • Children subjected to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect are at risk of death, poor physical, emotional , social , HIV/AIDS infection, education problems, displacement, homelessness, etc. • Children who are not safe, or who do not feel safe, rarely have the emotional energy to invest in their own development or to reach their potential • Exposure to violence is a risk factor which pushes children towards poorer psychosocial wellbeing • Lack of protection and safety have negative psychosocial wellbeing outcomes

11. EFFECTS OF violence, CHILD abuse on PS wellbeing Socially • have insecure attachments, aggressive behaviour problems • reduced pro-social behaviour and regulate or manage their own emotions • experience a combination of shame and fear which lead them to a culture of silence; loneliness and isolation Emotionally • develop symptoms: apathy, sadness, worry, fear, nightmares, disobedience, restlessness, poor concentration, grieve silently no trust.

12. The psychosocial approach • PSS approach aims to create an environment that promotes the psychological & social wellbeing of individuals • PSS approach views individuals to be in a state of constant, dynamic interaction with their social environment. • PSS approaches is not only on the individual includes larger social units such as households, families and communities.

13. Principles of PSS programming • Social inclusion: Strengthening the connection between the child and an adult in his/ her life and ensuring inclusion in larger community networks • Family and community care: strengthening families , community and social institutions to be responsive and protective for children • Universal access: advocate for universal access to essential services and state protection for the most vulnerable children • Child participation: enable children to become active participants • Government engagement: policies that protect and care for children

14. PSS Outcomes are linked to improved Child Protection(three pss domains) Emotional and spiritual well-being (intrapersonal) • Individual’s capacity to live a full and creative life • Flexibility to deal with life’s inevitable challenges. • Ability to know and to manage himself or herself. • Determines how in touch with his or her feelings , • Self-awareness and a sense of self-worth, • Control over one’s behaviour, realistic beliefs, • Spiritual appreciation and belief of one’s purpose, independence, • Feeling safe and happy, appreciation of others • Dreams and hope for the future

15. Social well-being (interpersonal) • Ability to interact and to get along with caregivers, family members and peers • Developing social networks, • Sense of belonging to a community, • Ability to communicate, • Social responsibility, • Empathy • Participation in social and cultural activities.

16. Skills and knowledge (cognitive) • Competencies and capacities to cope with life’s demands and stresses • Problem solving/ conflict, planning and decision making, • Stress management, • Negotiation, assertiveness, ability to say yes/no • Using culturally appropriate coping mechanisms, • Ability to assess own abilities and strengths in relation to needs. • Confidence to express oneself, • Vocational skills

17. PSS and protection • Psychosocial support for the individual, the family and the community is important for prevention of Violence/abuse. • A psychosocially well family and community will protect children • A psychosocially well child has the skills to contribute to their own protection and knows who to go to for protection • Psychosocial support is key to healing for children, families and communities who have experienced violence and abuse – • Resilience building • Coping strategies (

18. Child Protection interventions aim to: • build safety nets • minimize risk of harm, abuse & exploitation PSS focus on • empowerment, • restoring confidence , • self efficacy and • solution focused.

19. What should be done REPSSI – advocate for the mainstreaming of psychosocial support: • Framework for child protection’ includes the social andemotional outcomes by ensuring that prevention and healingactivities are represented fully. • Service design and delivery are conducted in a way that promotes psychosocial well-being of children, families and communities • Focusing on prevention and early intervention- supporting community and family-centred care initiatives to provide guidance, positive parenting, alternatives to violence • Providing long-term responses for rehabilitation- PSS training to community members , social work force ,para-professionals, para-legal, teachers, police, etc

20. Training on Introduction to PSS: Introduction to mainstreaming PSS; PSS for young & infants in time of HIV & AIDS Narrative approach: Tree Of Life: Experiential Learning Approach: Life skills Camps Child to Child: Mobilizing children & youth into their own child led organization (VSI) & Kids club Memory Approach; Memory book, Hero books, & Talking book Body mapping: Living with ‘X’ & Tracing bk PSS APPROACHES TRAININGS AND TOOLS

21. Community Approaches: Journey Of Life, Weaving Hope for our children Structured Group Approach: Structured Group Therapy Monitoring & Evaluation: PSS Assessment tool Information Action Tool Are we making the difference Mainstreaming: Mainstreaming PSS guidelines PSS & APPROACHES TRAININGS AND tools cont.

22. Community-Based Certificate in Working with Children & Youth 6 MODULES: • Personal& Professional Development • Human Rights Based Approaches & Child Protection • Child and Youth Development • Care and Support of Children at Risk • Integrated Development in Communities • Service Learning Project • Accredited by the University of KwaZulu Natal run by Institute of Social Work Tanzania

23. Teachers’ diploma in Psychosocial Care, Support & protection • Building blocks for a caring school • Realizing your own potential as a teacher • Realizing the potential of children • Using your classroom to realize children’s potential • The school realizing children’s potential • Strengthening school and community partnerships to realize children’s potential Monitoring and evaluation; Protection and positive discipline – cross cutting issues

24. conclusion There is no child protection without psychosocial support and there is no psychosocialwellbeing without child protection.

25. All aspects are equal for enhancing children’s protection for comprehensive development. Asanteni Sana!!! peter.massesa@repssi.org