Social Work Certificate Program in Rwanda by Tulane University School of Social Work New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Transcription

1 Innovative Training Programs for Workforce Development in Case Management and Social Work in Rwanda BY: Charles KALINGANIRE, MS And Prof So Nia Gilkey, PhD

2 Qualified Social Workers are a key for Social Welfare Promotion In Social work practice, it is important to listen to clients. On the right, the social worker (with glasses) is between two clients victim of HIV/AIDS following the talk of the head of RWANDARERA, an HIV/AIDS Association.

3 SOCIAL WORK PROCESSES IN RWANDA SOCIAL WORK = Helping and humanising profession that strives to involve people/clients in the problem-solving process in the perspective of enhancing their well-being. The development of professional Social Work in Rwanda is linked to the major historical, social and cultural changes undergone by the country.

4 SOCIAL WORK IN RWANDA: Brief overview a) Before the 1994 genocide against Tutsi: Existence of informal structures Emergence of formal structures especially with the helping to train Assistant Social Workers b) In the direct aftermath of the 1994 genocide Repairing and Re-opening of the social high Schools Organisation of various short trainings Beginning of the undergraduate SW at NUR c) Current situation: Appreciable positive change Need to increase the number of qualified Social Workers Initiation of Tulane SW Certificate Program

5 CERTIFICATE PROGRAM MODEL Theoretical training is needed but practical skills are also of great importance: Certificate Program Trainees pay a field visit to PLWHA in Kirehe/Eastern Province. At the end of group discussions and some case activities, they unite their prayers with those of the clients visited to manifest their empathy. Social Work New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

6 Social Work Faculty NUR University Partners Agency/Organization Partners Curriculum Development I.D. Project Participants Piloting of Certificate Prog. Delivery of Modules Graduation of Participants Development of DVD Piloting of Training Manuals Mod. 1 Mod. 2 Mod. 3 Field Testing New Cohort Co-Facilitation exe online Access TOT TA M&E

7 a) Design and Goals Project Design and Goals Certificate program for foundational and advanced social work knowledge and skills Uses Training of Trainer Model (TOT) Designed as social work capacity building Target community-based psychosocial workforce b) Program Modules Pre-Course Module: General HIV Knowledge, Concepts; Rwanda specific HIV knowledge and data; Rwanda cultural sayings Module 1: Basic SW knowledge and skills Module 2: Foundational SW practice skills Module 3: Mental Health and Substance Abuse

8 Key Activities of the Modules CP delivered over 10 weeks for total of 180 hours of coursework Lectures with Power Point presentations Experiential Learning Exercises Case Vignettes Class Presentations: Individual; Small Group Field Visits Essential Learning Component Development of Population Specific Training Manual Take Home Assignments Transitional Assignments Teach-Back Exercises Videotaped TOT practice workshop (small group) Pre/Post Test of Knowledge and skills Curriculum modification: Basic; Advanced

9 Project outcomes Thirty eight Master Trainers of Trainers trained Approximately 304 of current social work, community health, psychological and academic workforce in Rwanda trained DVD training package developed Certificate program online by April 2011 NUR to facilitate certificate program in Trainings delivered to date Graduates co-facilitating modules Supplemental modules developed

10 Way forward: strategies and perspectives Since 2 years of experience, the Program seems very relevant. It is of great importance: To work closely with NUR that may host the Certificate Program and in a mid-term establish a formal MA Program Selecting the fields of specialisation particularly in case management and community intervention Hastening the creation of NASW Promoting synergies with Welfare agencies, administrative instances and local communities.

11 Key References Hamdallah, M., Vargo, S., & Herrera, J. (2006). The VOICES/VOCES success story: Effective strategies for training, technical assistance and community-based organization implementation. AIDS Education and Prevention, 18, Supplement A, Hiner, C.A., Mandel, B.G., Weaver, M.R., Bruce, D., McLaughlin, R., & Anderson, J. (2009). Effectiveness of a training-oftrainers model in a HIV counseling and testing program in the Caribbean region. Human Resources for Health, 7(11), Kalinganire, C. (2003). The role of social work in the socioeconomic development of Rwanda: A comparative sociological analysis of South Africa and Rwanda. Cape Town: University of Stellenebosch. Kamiru, H.H., Ross, M.W., Bartholomew, McCurdy, S.A., & Kline, M.W. (2009). Effectiveness of a training program to increase the capacity of health care providers to provide HIV/AIDS care and treatment in Swaziland. AIDS Care, 21(11), Panucci, S., (2007). Train the trainer: The bricks in the learning community scaffold of professional development. International Journal of Social Sciences, 2(1), Project Hope (2008). Training of trainers for HIV/AIDS care. Downloaded on July 1, 2009 at Zielony, R.D. (2002). Training HIV/AIDS trainers and educators: A presentation of a comprehensive model of techniques. International Conference on AIDS, 14, Training Manual Resources: Uganda Ministry of Health (2005). HIV Counselling and Testing: A National Counsellor Training Manual. Kampala, Uganda You may view a copy of a recent presentation on this project available at (powerpoint presentation) or at (video presentation). A paper has been submitted regarding this project to the Journal of Human Services and Technology. A second paper is currently being prepared.