Social Service Workforce

The Room Was Full to Support and Protect Vulnerable Children in Nigeria

Sarah Dwyer — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:02:16 +0000

Nigeria SSW report slideshow

Jan 20, 2015 by Carol Bales

Click to view slideshow.

In December, the government of Nigeria launched a key report aimed at protecting orphans and vulnerable children in its Federal Capital Territory. IntraHealth’s USAID-funded CapacityPlus project contributed to the report and participated in the event.

The Child Protection System Strengthening Mapping and Assessment Report for Federal Capital Territory looks at the state’s child protection risks and gaps, and examines continuum of care, accountability mechanisms, and resource mobilization of the state’s existing child protection system. It ultimately aims to strengthen delivery of quality child protection services in the state.

According to the report, there are 17.5 million orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria. It’s estimated that 39% of children ages 5-14 are engaged in child labor; approximately 40% of children do not attend primary school; and as many as 40% of children may have been trafficked.

Author's name:

Carol Bales

Publication Date:

January 2015

Social Service Workers Address Ebola’s Widespread Social Impacts

Sarah Dwyer — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:47:31 +0000

The number of confirmed cases of Ebola is quickly climbing past 6,200. On September 20, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the historic UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), underscoring how a comprehensive, multisectoral response will be ever more critical as Ebola’s far-reaching health, security, political, economic, and social impacts on West Africa become more evident.

For every person infected, many others are affected—family members lose loved ones, children lose their parents, students lose teachers, employers lose key staff, and scores of responders have witnessed extreme suffering and work in exceedingly stressful environments.

Author's name:

Amy Bess and Alex Collins

Publication Date:

September 2014

Greater Support for the DRC’s Social Service Workers Leads to Better Care for Children

Carol Bales — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 20:03:28 +0000

This post originally appeared on the Frontline Health Workers Coalition blog.

A young boy—we’ll call him Mani—was living on the streets of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He had no one to look after him, nowhere to go. He was just nine years old.

Mani’s situation is not unique. One quarter of all Congolese youth under age 18 are considered to be orphans and/or vulnerable children, according to the most recent Demographic and Health Survey. And nine out of ten don’t receive adequate financial, emotional, or other types of support.

Author's name:

Sarah Dwyer and Carol Bales

Publication Date:

June 2014

Life after 2015: Keep Mental Health in Mind

Carol Bales — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 19:56:01 +0000

I could use a vacation.

Don’t worry, boss! I’m not overly stressed, but everyone can benefit from an occasional break. In fact, many countries mandate that workers receive a minimum number of vacation days per year. The idea is that time off can contribute to maintaining or even improving worker productivity and satisfaction. Yet a recent Atlantic piece points out that mandatory vacation time does not necessarily correspond to workers’ satisfaction.

Author's name:

Crystal Ng

Publication Date:

September 2013

Overcoming Obstacles to Accessing Mental Health Services in Ethiopia

Carol Bales — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 17:59:45 +0000

This post was originally published on the IntraHealth International blog.

“What do you see as one major obstacle to people seeking treatment that may be needed, and what advice or suggestion do you have to help overcome that obstacle, whether for the person, family member, or practitioner?”

That was the main question posed to panelists at the Ethiopian Global Initiative’s Ethiopia Public Health Forum, the focus of which was “Beyond the Stigma of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.” On June 1, I attended this forum as a representative of IntraHealth International.

Author's name:

Malik Jaffer

Publication Date:

June 2013

Picturing Our Work: Providing Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Devika Chawla — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:06:33 +0000

There are approximately 17.5 million orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria. In fact, one in every ten households in Nigeria is providing care for an orphan. How can we ensure safety and support for children affected by HIV/AIDS and other children in need of protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation?

Social service workers can play a crucial role in bridging the formal child protection system with the local community. But Nigeria, like many countries, is currently facing a severe shortage of these workers. Mapping and assessing the current social service workforce is the first step to strengthening this workforce; it provides a “snapshot” of the current system and allows a country to plan strategic strengthening. In January 2013, CapacityPlus initiated a gap analysis to assess challenges and opportunities in social work policy, practice, capacity, and education.

Author's name:

Devika Chawla

Publication Date:

March 2013

CapacityPlus’s Work Aligns with New US Government Action Plan on Children in Adversity

Carol Bales — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:04:46 +0000

CapacityPlus’s Work Aligns with New US Government Action Plan on Children in Adversity

The US Government recently launched the first-ever Action Plan on Children in Adversity. The plan coordinates efforts across seven government agencies to address the needs of children in adversity, including those made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS, natural disasters, and violence.

The launch of the plan was celebrated at two events, the first hosted at the National Press Club for civil society partners and media and the second hosted at the White House. Both events highlighted that, as stated in the action plan, “building strong beginnings, putting family care first, and protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence” should be among any nation’s top priorities.

Author's name:

Amy Bess

Publication Date:

January 2013

Social Workers Are at the Fault Lines of Society

Carol Bales — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 13:23:36 +0000

“Social workers are placed at the fault lines of society,” claimed Professor Walter Lorenz, rector of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, at the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development last week.

At times of devastating health epidemics, financial crises, natural disasters, or war, we are very often quick to respond to immediate health, housing, and food security needs. Another often neglected area of response is taking into account and addressing the social consequences of these events: identifying those who will raise orphaned children, assessing impacts on mental health and well-being, supporting community cohesion, identifying and strengthening existing social networks that support vulnerable children, and, in general, ensuring a coordinated professional response to the social welfare needs of communities.

Author's name:

Amy Bess

Publication Date:

July 2012