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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FXB Graduate Tracer Study: Tracing the Evolution of the FXB-Village Model and Its Impact on Participating Households

Dr. Helen Epstein and Adam Collins, 08 May 2012

Study tracing impact of FXB International's community-driven “FXB-Village” model on graduates of the program. The models is a structured program of household support and economic strengthening designed to empower particularly vulnerable families to escape extreme poverty and ensure the enduring wellbeing of the children in their care.

USA: Stepping Up for Kids -what government and communities should do to support kinship families

Annie E. Casey Foundation, 22 Apr 2012

This comprehensive policy report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation summarizes what is known about kinship care in the United States, identifies the problems and issues these families face, and recommends how best to support caregivers as they step up to take responsibility for children in their extended families and communities.

The National Family Preservation Network (NFPN)'s New International Assessment Tool

The National Family Preservation Network , 01 Mar 2012

The National Family Preservation Network (NFPN) recently released its family assessment tool designed for use in Least Developed Countries (LDC). The tool aims to help a variety of workers serving families in least developed countries by providing methods and approaches to enhance family strengthening.

http://nfpn.org/products/238-family-assessment-ldc-tool.html

The economic burden of child maltreatment in the United States and implications for prevention

Xiangming Fang, Derek S. Brown, Curtis S. Florence, James A. Mercy , 01 Feb 2012

This paper presents new estimates of the average lifetime cost per child maltreatment (CM) victim in the United States and aggregate lifetime costs for all new cases of CM incurred in 2008 using an incidence-based approach. The authors find that the lifetime economic burden of CM is approximately $124 billion. Given this substantial economic burden, the authors argue that the benefits of prevention will likely outweigh the costs for effective programs.

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Caring for Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse: Guidelines for health and psychosocial service providers in humanitarian settings

International Rescue Committee & UNICEF, 2012

The CCS Guidelines is the “how-to” guide for instructing health and psychosocial field staff responding to children who have experienced sexual abuse in humanitarian settings.

Child Rights in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Keeping Families Together: Making social protection more effective for children

Peroline Ainsworth, Elena Gaia, Anna Nordenmark Severinsson, 2012

This edition of Insights produced by UNICEF summarizes the findings and recommendations of studies on the impact and outreach of social protection systems in Albania, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine where high rates of child placement in formal care still persist. The research offers important insight into the weaknesses and challenges faced by social protection systems in the region, but also point to ways in which policy-makers might maximise the impact of social protection systems in order to ‘keep families together’.

The Mental Health of Young People Aging Out of Care and Entering Adulthood: Exploring the Evidence from England and France

Mike Steina, Annick-Camille Dumaretb - Children and Youth Services Review Volume 33, Issue 12 - Young People's Transitions from Care to Adulthood, 01 Dec 2011

This paper explores the research evidence from England and France on the mental health of young people aging out of care and into adulthood.

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Receipt of Help Acquiring Life Skills and Predictors of Help Receipt Among Current and Former Foster Youth

Mark E. Courtneya, JoAnn Leeb, Alfred Pereza - Children and Youth Services Review, 01 Dec 2011

Foster youth in the US do not appear to be receiving many forms of help that are called for in federal law. Over one-third did not receive help they would have liked to have received. System factors play a stronger role than individual indicators of need in help receipt. Independent living services should be more widely available and better targeted.

Receipt of help acquiring life skills and predictors of help receipt among current and former foster youth - ScienceDirect

ABCs for Action and Advocacy: A Note on Positive Parenting and Non-Violent Discipline Working Document

World Day of Prayer and Action for Children Secretariat New York, 20 Nov 2011

This informational note for action, produced by World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, aims to support religious communities and partners in promoting “positive parenting” and non-violent disciplining of children.

Para Reconstruir la Vida de los Niños y Niñas: Guía para apoyar intervenciones psicosociales en Emergencias y Desastres

UNICEF, 01 Nov 2011

Este informe presenta detalles de talleres para favorecer el desarrollo y adquisición de conocimientos, habilidades y destrezas para lograr una adecuada intervención psicosocial en las poblaciones afectadas por el terremoto/maremoto.