1. University of Illinois at Chicago
Nigerian Academic Partnership for Para Social Work
Strengthening Social Welfare Workforce Capacity in Sub Sahara Africa through Para Social Work Twinning Partnerships
Nathan L. Linsk, Ph. D.
Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center, University of Illinois at Chicago
Satellite Session on Twinning s XIX International AIDS Conference s Washington, DC s 25 July 2012

2. Presentation Overview
What is Social Welfare System Strengthening?
Twinning Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity
Recommendations for Sustainable Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

3. 1. What is Social Welfare System Strengthening?
The Social Welfare Workforce--A new buzzword?
The social service workforce describes a variety of workers – paid and unpaid, governmental and non-governmental – who staff the social service system and contribute to the care of vulnerable children and families.
Includes social workers, social welfare officers, but also others who play these roles– local leaders, municipal/district executive, community development workers.
Often para-professionals are included by various names: para-social workers, child and youth care workers, community development workers, child and family probation officers.

4. Role of social work in Social Welfare Workforce
Helping those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged begins in family and community
When this is not fully possible…
We build a social welfare support structure
This involves many-- not only social work
But social work is the profession dedicated to developing, administrating programs and services, systems to meet those needs when family and community need that support
Terms “social service workforce” and “social welfare workforce” are both used—social welfare may refer to the larger structure and is used in this presentation
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

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Emergence of Social Welfare/Social Service System Strengthening Initiatives
Global Conference in South Africa, November 2010, organized by Technical Working Group for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS associated with PEPFAR (USAID funded)
Focus on highlighting crisis in providing services needed by vulnerable children at a country and global level as
Objective to develop and share a growing body of knowledge and resources to support efforts to strengthen the social welfare workforce to assist vulnerable children and their families
Global Social Service Workforce Alliance established to provide follow-up and increase attention and support to the workforce responsible for the care and protection of vulnerable children and families
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

6. Social Welfare Workforce Strengthening Framework: A framework for investing in those who care for children
Source: November 2010 Social Welfare Systems Strengthing Conference, Capetown, S. Africa. Conference Report-- AIDS-STAR 2

7. The Social Service Workforce: Challenges
Attracting and retaining qualified workers--Vacancy rates for professional and para-professional positions within Africa range from 50%–60%, half of those employed leave their jobs within five years
Limited workforce planning
Developing workforce staffing plans-- schemes of service, job descriptions, civil service programs, etc. at government & local levels. Often may include unrealistic realistic implementation.
Limited education opportunities to prepare and meet demands for social welfare workers
Those who receive education attracted to other fields
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

8. The Social Welfare Workforce: Challenges, continued
Resources for Education and Training (financial & materials) and harmonization across varying projects
Certifying of workers who have completed the programs (by whom? How?) and accrediting programs
Incentives for the workers (salaries, supplies, transport, support)
Ongoing supervision
Sustainability
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2. Twinning Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity Overview of Partnership Models
AIHA has established 3 Twinning Partnerships that address social work and social welfare workforce issues
Initial partnership developed in Tanzania with Institute of Social Work. Each has emerged and collaborated with the others but suggest different strategies that may be adapted to country contexts
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

10. Who is a Para Social Worker? (Psychosocial Care Worker in Ethiopia!)
Staff or volunteers of non-governmental, government and community organizations who have received training to assist in the delivery of social services.
Para Professionals with an array of basic service skills. They may assess needs, provide support and refer clients to needed services.
Equipped to work under supervision of a trained supervisor to support vulnerable children, People Living with HIV and their families, but do not substitute for professionally prepared practitioners.
May include Community-based volunteers, Home-based care workers, Nurses, Charities, societies and association workers, etc.
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Key Partners
Communities, Local Government, NGOs, Traditional Leaders
African Schools of Social Work
Tanzania: Institute of Social Work
Ethiopia: Addis Ababa University School of Social Work
Nigeria: Federal School of Social Work, Department of SW, University of Nigeria Nsukka
Ministries with specific charge to address vulnerable children and families (e.g.Health and Social Welfare (Tanzania), Labor and Social Affairs (Ethiopia), Womens Affairs and Social Development (Nigeria)
Other key government ministries
PEPFAR, USAID, and HRSA
American International Health Alliance-Twinning Center
US Partners: Jane Addams College of Social Work, MATEC, consortium of consultants
Other major NGOs (e.g. IntraHealth-Tanzania Human Resource Capacity Project in Tanzania, PACT, FHI in Ethiopia, etc.)
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12. Need for a Three Leg Model
The Social Work Partnership for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Tanzania
Supporting Social Work Education
(TESWEP)
Improving services for most vulnerable children:
para- professional training and infrastructure development
Strengthening the Profession:
Social Work Association (TASWO)
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

13. Project Implementation
How?
Introduction to Para-Social Work Training
Supervised field experience (6 months)
Para-Social Work II: Enhanced Practice Skills
Additional support and consultation
Social Welfare Assistant Program (Certificate)
Integrated case management model
In collaboration within the existing social welfare structure
System for supervision, follow up,
and quality management

14. Training Components/Curricula
Equipped to Care: Building Skills to Assist Vulnerable Children and Families Affected by HIV (Introduction to PSW—8-10 days) : focuses on teaching beginning case management skills within the context of HIV-related issues and child development. Key topics include: outreach, engaging children and families, assessment and service planning, ongoing service management and follow-up (all 3 countries)
Supervising Para-Social Work at the Village Level (4-5 days): focuses on training selected PSWs in supervisory skills to assume oversight of their PSW trainee colleagues. Supervisors complete the initial PSW Course, followed by an additional 4-day supervisory training that includes content presentations and case-based skills (all 3 countries)
Supervised Field Work Experience (6 months)
4) Practice Skills to Intervene with Most Vulnerable Children and Families (5 days). Provided to PSW trainees after six months or more of supervised practice . Sample content: Reducing stigma, Collaboration with local governments, Legal and Policy Update, Care, support for HIV+ children, Improving Assessment Skills, HIV risk reduction (Tanzania, Nigeria)
5) Social Welfare Assistant Certificate (1 year including field practicum) Preparation for paid employment in social welfare system (Tanzania, Nigeria?)

15. Roles within Social Welfare System
Social Welfare Officer (District/Local Levels)
Fully qualified (Advanced Diploma or BSW or equivalent)
Employed at Government Level
Legal Responsibilities include child protection, oversight of facilities, focster care, placement (Child Act)
Supervise Social Welfare Officer
Social Welfare Assistant (Ward or Village Levels)
Completed 1 Year Accredited Certificate
Para Social Work experience or equivalent
Work under supervision of Social Welfare Officer and perform related services
Supervisor Para Social Worker
Para Social Worker (Village Level)
Complete 3 part PSW Training (I, II, Practicum)
Provide direct services—outreach, assess, service plan and case management
Supervision by Social Welfare Assistant
Tanzania Model

16. Para Social Worker
Client
Project coordinator
PSW
Supervisor

17. Program Focus and Number of Participants
Tanzania
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Focus
Expand social welfare workforce to address most vulnerable children by creating career opportunities through para-social work, social welfare assistants working with local government and Department of Social Welfare (MOHSW)
Provide supplemental training to existing volunteers and staff at community level to enhance psychosocial services to people living with HIV
Develop a cadre of volunteers to work with vulnerable children and families emerging from local communities emphasizing those with commitment and passion to ongoing services.
Number
PSW I – > 3500
PSW II – >1800 (completers)
Supervisors-- >500
420
170 completed
50 in process (PSW I only)

18. Selection and Supervision
Tanzania
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Selection through Local Government Authority, Targets individuals qualified for government service (< age 35), complete secondary school (form 4).
Broad outreach to community organizations, work with health officers to identify participants
Selection made by Traditional leaders in consultation with Local Government; [participants over age 18 and completed secondary school.].
Supervision done by trained supervisors selected by Local Government (soon to be by Social Welfare Assistants)
Supervisors come for training with participants from community organizations
Supervision under oversight of Schools of Social work
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Program Support
Tanzania
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Volunteer program, support provided mostly at local level and by PSW Association with project help from partner staff.
May apply to become Social Welfare Assistants (1 year certificate)
Mixed program, support provided by local organizations with some assistance through project staff.
Support through PSW Association, Schools of Social Work (supervisors of supervisors) and project staff
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

20. Monitoring and Evaluation
Tanzania
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Pre-post training evaluation and follow-up visits. Supervisor reports. Currently assessing methods to measure long-term program achievements (not quite outcomes)
Pre-post training evaluation, follow-up visits planned
Pre-post training evaluation
Supervisor reports.
Ongoing monitoring of service plans and assessments through Learning Resource Center.
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3. Recommendations for Sustainable Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity
Usual approach: provide technical support to develop a program and then try to shift responsibility to local partners
However the more success there is the more will be the demand for more activity (opposite is probably also true)
Local partners likely to have other pressing demands and priorities (teaching, accreditation, personal need for funding, etc.)
Withdrawal of partner presence may be seen as lack of confidence in local ability to maintain involvement
Local partners may need considerable support to take advantage of new funding opportunities, networking with donors, more direct funding that may lead to sustainability
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

22. Some Issues and Suggestions for Sustainable Capacity Building
Clarity about sustainability development from the beginning of partnership
Build sustainability, evaluation and technology transfer into the work plan
Transparency about budget resources and challenges
Anticipate changes in leadership, particularly for educational advancement
Anticipate to get local partner to engage in social welfare workforce activities will need modeling, encouragement and ongoing support
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How Twinning Projects Ensure Sustainable Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity
Clarity of program focus, objectives emerging from local needs and demands
Collaborative program development (training, infrastructure, evaluation)
Comprehensive focus: training, infrastructure, generating national support (financial and policy)
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Towards Sustainable Capacity Building Partnerships to Strengthen Social Welfare Workforce Capacity
Inclusion of (a) service improvement; (b) educational structure; (c) professional network (3 legs)
Incentives and support for ongoing service delivery
Maintenance plan including replacement training, supervision, encourage further education and career development
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25. XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012
Watoto Kwanza!
Children First!!
XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012