The Intersection between social and behavior change communication (SBCC) and social service workforce strengthening: Highlights from the Uganda Child Protection System Strengthening (USS) Project
Summary:
The government SSW does not currently have a rigorous induction or supervision structure to orient, monitor and support staff to carry out their child protection function (Bulwani, G., and Twikirize, J. (2019). These constraints are particularly alarming in a context where one in three girls, and one in six boys experience sexual violence (UNICEF, 2015). In sum, the workforce with the child protection mandate does not appear to have all of the required knowledge, skills and practices to lead an effective response. With constraints in the human resource structure of the SSW, partners seeking to support government-led efforts to improve child protection could borrow from the methods frequently deployed in SBCC. Key lessons from a major USAID-funded child protection system strengthening project, indicate that elements of SBCC appear to have contributed to critical improvements in services and support for child and adolescent survivors of sexual violence. Whereas fully functional and resourced child protection systems have mechanisms to ensure accountability for performance, less resourced systems often seen in developing countries, may have to rely on other methods for improving performance. The case of Uganda Child Helpline suggests that SBCC methods can help to strengthen performance and increase the functionality of the overall child protection system. With the deliberate use of communication for behavior change methods to engage Case Workers, promoting the adoption of new workplace behaviors and actions, critical gains in workforce performance were observed, namely increased access to services for reported cases of sexual violence.
Background/Objectives:
The government social service workforce (SSW) in Uganda is under-resourced, under-staffed, and under-equipped to carry out its child protection mandate. Furthermore, in the absence of a robust supervision and regulatory framework to monitor and regulate the profession, traditional human resource processes are largely ineffective in motivating and ensuring staff carry out their duties. A system strengthening project in Uganda has deployed SBCC initiatives in a bid to transform hearts and minds and help the social service workforce to recognize the vital role they do and can increasingly play in supporting child and adolescent survivors of sexual violence.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
The government SSW does not currently have a rigorous induction or supervision structure to orient, monitor and support staff to carry out their child protection function (Bulwani, G., and Twikirize, J. (2019). These constraints are particularly alarming in a context where one in three girls, and one in six boys experience sexual violence (UNICEF, 2015). In sum, the workforce with the child protection mandate does not appear to have all of the required knowledge, skills and practices to lead an effective response. With constraints in the human resource structure of the SSW, partners seeking to support government-led efforts to improve child protection could borrow from the methods frequently deployed in SBCC. Key lessons from a major USAID-funded child protection system strengthening project, indicate that elements of SBCC appear to have contributed to critical improvements in services and support for child and adolescent survivors of sexual violence.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Engaging Case Workers from the national toll-free Child Helpline in case management data reviews to strengthen access to services and support, while not specifically designed as an SBCC intervention, included critical elements of a typical SBCC framework. This included: deliberate efforts to present data and review actual case stories with a view to get people to care [communication for behavior change], to help Case Workers recognize their ability assisting survivors to access services and support [opportunity], while championing key priority actions that Case Workers could adopt [motivation] to support survivors of abuse without additional funding or resources. The results from subsequent case reviews revealed increased referrals and access to services from 28% (Jan-July 2018) to 75% between (Nov 2018-June 2019) for sexual violence cases reported to the Helpline. Similarly, survivor testing for HIV increased from 17% to 58%, and access to post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection increased from 35% [...]
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
Whereas fully functional and resourced child protection systems have mechanisms to ensure accountability for performance, less resourced systems often seen in developing countries, may have to rely on other methods for improving performance. The case of Uganda Child Helpline suggests that SBCC methods can help to strengthen performance and increase the functionality of the overall child protection system. With the deliberate use of communication for behavior change methods to engage Case Workers, promoting the adoption of new workplace behaviors and actions, critical gains in workforce performance were observed, namely increased access to services for reported cases of sexual violence.
Abstract submitted by:
Michelle Ell - Catholic Relief Services
Justus Atwijukire - Catholic Relief Services
The government SSW does not currently have a rigorous induction or supervision structure to orient, monitor and support staff to carry out their child protection function (Bulwani, G., and Twikirize, J. (2019). These constraints are particularly alarming in a context where one in three girls, and one in six boys experience sexual violence (UNICEF, 2015). In sum, the workforce with the child protection mandate does not appear to have all of the required knowledge, skills and practices to lead an effective response. With constraints in the human resource structure of the SSW, partners seeking to support government-led efforts to improve child protection could borrow from the methods frequently deployed in SBCC. Key lessons from a major USAID-funded child protection system strengthening project, indicate that elements of SBCC appear to have contributed to critical improvements in services and support for child and adolescent survivors of sexual violence. Whereas fully functional and resourced child protection systems have mechanisms to ensure accountability for performance, less resourced systems often seen in developing countries, may have to rely on other methods for improving performance. The case of Uganda Child Helpline suggests that SBCC methods can help to strengthen performance and increase the functionality of the overall child protection system. With the deliberate use of communication for behavior change methods to engage Case Workers, promoting the adoption of new workplace behaviors and actions, critical gains in workforce performance were observed, namely increased access to services for reported cases of sexual violence.
Background/Objectives:
The government social service workforce (SSW) in Uganda is under-resourced, under-staffed, and under-equipped to carry out its child protection mandate. Furthermore, in the absence of a robust supervision and regulatory framework to monitor and regulate the profession, traditional human resource processes are largely ineffective in motivating and ensuring staff carry out their duties. A system strengthening project in Uganda has deployed SBCC initiatives in a bid to transform hearts and minds and help the social service workforce to recognize the vital role they do and can increasingly play in supporting child and adolescent survivors of sexual violence.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
The government SSW does not currently have a rigorous induction or supervision structure to orient, monitor and support staff to carry out their child protection function (Bulwani, G., and Twikirize, J. (2019). These constraints are particularly alarming in a context where one in three girls, and one in six boys experience sexual violence (UNICEF, 2015). In sum, the workforce with the child protection mandate does not appear to have all of the required knowledge, skills and practices to lead an effective response. With constraints in the human resource structure of the SSW, partners seeking to support government-led efforts to improve child protection could borrow from the methods frequently deployed in SBCC. Key lessons from a major USAID-funded child protection system strengthening project, indicate that elements of SBCC appear to have contributed to critical improvements in services and support for child and adolescent survivors of sexual violence.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Engaging Case Workers from the national toll-free Child Helpline in case management data reviews to strengthen access to services and support, while not specifically designed as an SBCC intervention, included critical elements of a typical SBCC framework. This included: deliberate efforts to present data and review actual case stories with a view to get people to care [communication for behavior change], to help Case Workers recognize their ability assisting survivors to access services and support [opportunity], while championing key priority actions that Case Workers could adopt [motivation] to support survivors of abuse without additional funding or resources. The results from subsequent case reviews revealed increased referrals and access to services from 28% (Jan-July 2018) to 75% between (Nov 2018-June 2019) for sexual violence cases reported to the Helpline. Similarly, survivor testing for HIV increased from 17% to 58%, and access to post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection increased from 35% [...]
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
Whereas fully functional and resourced child protection systems have mechanisms to ensure accountability for performance, less resourced systems often seen in developing countries, may have to rely on other methods for improving performance. The case of Uganda Child Helpline suggests that SBCC methods can help to strengthen performance and increase the functionality of the overall child protection system. With the deliberate use of communication for behavior change methods to engage Case Workers, promoting the adoption of new workplace behaviors and actions, critical gains in workforce performance were observed, namely increased access to services for reported cases of sexual violence.
Abstract submitted by:
Michelle Ell - Catholic Relief Services
Justus Atwijukire - Catholic Relief Services
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: Catholic Relief Services