ADAPTING SOCIAL WORK TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ESTABLISH NEW CADRES OF SOCIAL WORKERS, PARA SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS SOCIAL WELFARE WORKFORCE STRENGTHENING CONFERENCE 15-18 NOVEMBER 2010 Ms. Leah Omari, Tanzania Institute of Social Work
Project Background & Overview Launched in late 2006 as an HIV/AIDS social work partnership to improve care and support for OVC in Tanzania Partners are the Institute of Social Work (ISW) and Jane Addams College of Social Work (JACSW) at the University of Illinois, Chicago This partnership is supported by the, a project of the American International Health Alliance (AIHA), and is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through a cooperative agreement under the US President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and managed by CDC and USAID in Tanzania All programs are conducted in collaboration with Tanzania s Department of Social Welfare (DSW), as well as with local government municipal authorities and NGOs
Why Does Para-Social Work Training Exist in Tanzania? A strategy to decentralize the social welfare services in order to ensure quality OVC services to the communities and families. Tanzania s welfare system is severely overstretched by the AIDS epidemic and lacks sufficient social workers to address needs Shortage of trained human resources in the health and social services sectors
Who are the Key Stakeholders? Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Prime Minister s Office Regional and Local Government USAID American International Health Alliance Jane Addams College of Social Work IntraHealth-Tanzania Human Resource Capacity Project
PSW Project Coverage
Who is a Para-Social Worker (PSW)? A staff member or community volunteer who has received training to assist in the delivery of foundational social welfare services effectively namely Assessing needs Providing care and support Referring clients to services Providing ongoing follow-up care Social welfare workers, Community-based volunteers HBC workers, MVCC members & Others who are committed to helping MVC within their community.
Content discussions PSW Training Methods Small group skills building workshops Community panel presentations Case-based problem solving including role plays, group tasks, case studies Participant manual including all power points and handouts Assessment tools including eco-map, identifying OVC tools, community service mapping, case manage service plans, case conferencing
How are PSWs Identified? Districts are identified in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Prime Minister s Office Regional and Local Government and other stakeholders An awareness training about the program is conducted with local government leaders Local government leaders identify para-social work trainees at the village level Local government leaders identify supervisor trainees to work with para-social workers
PSW Training Curricula Partners have to date developed three distinct curricula: 1. Introduction to PSW Course (8 days) This course focuses on teaching beginning OVC case management skills within the context of HIV-related issues and child development 2. Supervising PSW at the Village Level This course focuses on training selected PSWs in supervisory skills to assume oversight of their PSW trainee colleagues 3. Supervised Field Experience (6 months) 4. PSW II Follow-up Course This course focuses on skills related to caring for vulnerable children/families in special circumstances Offered to PSW trainees as a follow-up after six months or more of supervised practice
Program Achievement As of August 2010, in collaboration with IntraHealth through the Tanzania Human Resource Capacity Project, partners have trained 2408 Para-Social Workers, 329 Supervisors, 103 Master Trainers and 75 District Social Welfare Officers from Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Lindi, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Dodoma and Mwanza The current strategy is to target areas that have less developed community programs to meet these needs
How is PSW Training Adapted in Social Work Professional Education in Tanzania? The MOHSW has revised the social services scheme of services and added the Welfare Assistant cadre which create PSW career opportunity The one year curriculum in Social Work for Social Welfare Assistants in Tanzania has been developed. Higher priority will be given to qualified PSWs applying for this certificate course. JACSW/ISW is now providing technical assistance to enhance emerging social work education programs in other colleges and universities to foster collaboration among all social work education programs with the overall goal of assisting the development of national PSW program implementation guidelines.
How is the PSW training adapted in the Social work Professional Education in Tanzania? JACSW/ISW/AAU(Addis Ababa University) are finalizing the planning and implementation of the MSW program. The MSW program will address a major gap in social work education, as there is no other MSW program in the country. The MSW program will create advanced social work practitioners including PSWs to adapt working with individuals, families, groups, communities and policymakers who will be available to the country to provide leadership for the government on policy issues and to provide direction to the welfare of the nation.
What Have We Learned? Based on our pre- and post-test data, participants report that PSW training: Decreases stigma and discrimination related to MVC Enhances system responses to MVC needs Equips PSWs to apply relevant social policies to more effectively assist MVC Develops master trainers capable of conducting ongoing PSW training courses thus building sustainable local capacity Trains PSW Supervisors to ensure quality of OVC services Develops a cadre of PSWs to address the needs of MVC throughout the country