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?
Establish strategic 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 and emotional outcomes by ensuring that prevention and healing activities 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. PSS APPROACHES TRAININGS AND TOOLS
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

21. PSS & APPROACHES TRAININGS AND tools cont.
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

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
, allows community-based workers to remain in their communities

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
Building Blocks: introduction to mainstreaming psychosocial support into the school context, participatory action learning to promote systemic change, understanding and promoting children’s rights.
Realizing your own potential as a teacher: a range of theories enhance understanding of self / balancing personal, professional and social issues.
Realizing the potential of children: working effectively with children who require extra support, knowledge of child development, diagnostic skills and children’s rights.
Using your classroom to realize children’s potential: practical interventions to ensure a caring classroom culture,
The school realizing children’s potential: working with the leadership and management promote the implementation of policies and programmes that support children’s rights and their psychosocial wellbeing.
Strengthening school and community partnerships to realize children’s potential: principles of community development and participatory approaches to strengthen community and school partnerships.
to reinforce reflective practice and action research, participating schools will complete a baseline and post evaluation that monitors the mainstreaming of PSS into their school

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

25. All aspects are equal for enhancing children’s protection for comprehensive development.
Asanteni Sana!!!