Psychosocial Support

The best form of psychosocial support is a healthy family and supportive environment, preferably in the child's community of origin, or one that is culturally similar. Psychosocial well-being is a product of multiple support, which is rooted in the ability to form healthy relationships and participate in community networks.

However, certain considerations may be required in order to help children and caretakers come to terms with life-changing events, such as the loss of a parent. Separation can be highly stressful for children, particularly if it is unexpected, or repeated. Some children may experience anxiety, attachment problems, sleep disturbances, dependency issues, regression, and a range of other behavioural issues which threaten their mental health and development.

Specific types of support may be required for children suffering from loss, severe or chronic ill health, abuse or exploitation. The child’s experience, age, resilience, and the level of support received from the family and community will determine if a child needs external services. A child is far less likely to experience psychosocial stress if they have good natural support mechanisms and therefore protection efforts should focus on supporting families and communities to help each other.

When psychosocial support is needed, an assessment is important in determining the scope and type of issues, the existing family and community resources, and analysis of how these can be strengthened. Clinical mental health interventions such as therapy, psychiatry or psychological counseling, should only be provided by trained professionals after a clinical assessment and, in all cases, should be culturally relevant.

Psychosocial activities must promote the children’s development and their relationships with others, re-establish routines, increase self confidence and sense of control over their lives. Children’s activities, such as the provision of safe places, group work or referrals to specialists, should be designed around the child’s individual needs, age, gender, and cultural identity. Interventions should be empowering, inclusive, and fully integrated with wider community efforts. Children’s participation is essential in psychosocial work; children should be encouraged to express their opinions, and to have these taken into account.

The literature found here describes the psychosocial effects of separation, and other threats to children such as HIV/AIDS, conflict, abuse and exploitation, and provides guidance and examples of psychosocial interventions.

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Adopted Youth in Residential Care: Prevalence Rate and Professional Training Needs

David Brodzinsky, John Santa & Susan Livingston Smith - Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 18 Apr 2016

In this study, clinical program directors from 59 residential treatment facilities in the US responded to an online survey addressing the representation of adopted youth currently being served by their organization, the extent to which adoption issues are incorporated into clinical intake and treatment processes, and the training needs of clinical staff related to adoption.

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The Buffering Role of Social Support on the Psychosocial Wellbeing of Orphans in Rwanda

Tehetna Alemu Caserta, Raija‐Leena Punamäki, & Anna‐Maija Pirttilä‐Backman - , 28 Mar 2016

This study examined (1) how perceived social support (PSS) varied across orphan‐related characteristics (e.g., orphan status, such as single, maternal or paternal, and their living environments, such as in child‐headed households, on the street, in an orphanage or in a foster home) and (2) the relative importance of sources of PSS (relatives/community/adults and peers) and functional social support (emotional/informational/instrumental and social) and its association with emotional well‐being and mental distress.

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Letting the Future In: a therapeutic intervention for children affected by sexual abuse and their carers - An evaluation of impact and implementation

John Carpenter, Tricia Jessiman and Demi Patsios - University of Bristol; Simon Hackett and Josephine Phillips - Durham University, 01 Feb 2016

This independent report, from University of Bristol and Durham University, draws on information from the largest randomised controlled trial of a service for children affected by sexual abuse.

Community-based organizations for vulnerable children in South Africa: Reach, psychosocial correlates, and potential mechanisms

A.R. Yakubovich, L. Sherr, L.D. Cluver, S. Skeen, I.S. Hensels, A. Macedo, M. Tomlinson, 21 Jan 2016

Community-based organizations (CBOs) have the potential to provide high quality services for orphaned and vulnerable children in resource-limited settings.

Community-based organizations for vulnerable children in South Africa: Reach, psychosocial correlates, and potential mechanisms

A.R. Yakubovich, L. Sherr, L.D. Cluver, S. Skeen, I.S. Hensels, A. Macedo, M. Tomlinson - Children and Youth Services Review, 21 Jan 2016

This study used cross-sectional data from 1848 South African children aged 9–13 to address three questions: whether CBOs are reaching those who are most vulnerable, whether attending these organizations is associated with greater psychosocial wellbeing, and how they might work.

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Utilising Group Work in The Implementation of Family Preservation Services: Views of Child Protection Social Worker

Josane Van Huyssteen, Marianne Strydom - Social Work, 2016

This paper discusses the style and efficacy of child preservation services for the purpose of reducing child abuse and neglect.

Children’s attachment: attachment in children and young people who are adopted from care, in care or at high risk of going into care

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 25 Nov 2015

This guideline covers the identification, assessment and treatment of attachment difficulties in children and young people up to age 18 who are adopted from care, in special guardianship, looked after by local authorities in foster homes (including kinship foster care), residential settings and other accommodation, or on the edge of care.

Why is suicide the leading killer of older adolescent girls?

The Lancet, 21 Nov 2015

This comment from the Lancet discusses the rising rate of suicide among adolescent girls worldwide.

Faith to Action Initiative Webinar 3: Strategies for Strengthening Family Care

Faith to Action Initiative, 10 Oct 2015

This webinar from Faith to Action Initiative presents key strategies for expanding the capacity of families to care for orphans and vulnerable children.

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Parent–child cohesion, friend companionship and left-behind children's emotional adaptation in rural China

Jingxin Zhao, Xia Liu, Meifang Wang - Child Abuse & Neglect, 17 Jul 2015

Using cross-sectional data from rural left-behind children aged 10–17 years in the Henan Province of China, the present study examined the roles of father–child cohesion, mother–child cohesion, and friend companionship in emotional adaptation (loneliness, depression, and life satisfaction) among children left behind by both of their rural-to-urban migrant parents compared to those with only a migrating father.

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