What are psychosocial assessments? Why are assessments needed?
What kinds of assessments are there? When are assessments done? How
do you do assessments? Who conducts assessments? Who provides
information Focus of this workshop session
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT What are psychosocial
assessments? Tools that help to find facts about psychosocial
wellbeing and psychosocial needs Measure and report impact of
disaster / crisis on population (reactions, needs and resources)
including impact on psychosocial wellbeing and coping Help to
identify vulnerable sub-groups Guide the where, when, what and how
to planning and implementing a psychosocial intervention
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Why are psychosocial
assessments needed? Partner buzz and group brainstorm Why are
psychosocial assessments needed after every new disaster event or
in every new crisis situation?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Why are assessments
needed? All disaster and crises events are unique Impact people
(physical, social, emotional) environment, infrastructure,
economic, political, cultural Affected population number, ages,
gender Reactions of people, government, NGOs (local /
international), other assisting bodies Needs basic needs,
psychosocial, medical, educational Resources available people,
economic, political, local and international assistance, etc.
Opportunities for responses
PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Two types of assessments
Needs assessments: explore impact of event; reactions, needs and
resources of affected population Examples Rapid assessments
In-depth (detailed) detailed assessments Continuous assessments
(monitoring)
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Types of assessments
Impact assessments: collects data that can be used to measure
impact of psychosocial intervention / response Baseline study
Continuous assessments (monitoring) Mid-term evaluations Final
evaluations
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Psychosocial needs
assessments foci Demographics: who, where, population
characteristics Impact of event: physical, social, emotional
Problems: present and future Resources and capacities: to help
themselves and each other (coping mechanisms) Assistance
needed
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Psychosocial impact
assessments foci Demographics: who, where, population
characteristics Impact of event: physical, social, emotional (past
and present) Problems: Past, present and future Resources and
capacities: to help themselves and each other (coping mechanisms)
before and now Assistance given already and still needed
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Impact assessments help
us to determine Impact of psychosocial intervention=desired impact
or not? Improved psychosocial well-being? Need for adaptation of
psychosocial intervention/response?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT When are assessments
done?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT When are assessments
done?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Immediately after a
disaster Collaborated effort between responders (desired)
Preparation for immediate and urgent response o Primary focus
survival: basic and medical needs Rapid assessments Examples: Field
and assessments coordination teams (FACT) and Regional Disaster
Response Teams (RDRT)
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Psychosocial foci Shock,
disorientation, major and minor distress, immediate concerns, loss
of sense of place Rapid assessments Typical response Psychological
First Aid Restoring family links Restoration of sense of normality
Normal reactions to abnormal events
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Example of assessment
timeline
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Weeks or even months
after crisis event Motivated by indication of psychosocial needs
Analysis of community structures and opportunities for long term
psychosocial interventions Detailed assessments Focus is on
realistic, appropriate long-term interventions
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Example of assessment
timeline
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Baseline study What is a
baseline study? What is it used for? Has anyone been involved in
designing or collecting data for a baseline study?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Baseline study Designed
and undertaken AFTER the intervention has been planned Used to
provide BASELINE or FIRST SET of data to compare future monitoring
and evaluation with Important tool for mid-term and final
evaluations Measures INDICATORS of psychosocial wellbeing that are
then measured again later
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Example of assessment
timeline
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Continuous assessments
Used for monitoring purposes Keep track of progress and challenges
Provide guidance for needed adaptation
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Evaluations Larger and
often more costly than other assessments Valuable information to
donors, program managers, participants and beneficiaries,
progressing field of PSS. Mid-term and final Focus on past, present
and future
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT How to conduct
assessments Two main types of data collected
QuantitativeQualitative SurveysKey informant interviews
Questionnaires Focus Group Discussions Psychometric tools
Observations 1,2,3 Word descriptions =, %, a:b
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT How to conduct
assessments In small groups discuss the two qualitative data
collection methods given below, answering the given questions.
Focus group discussions Community mapping 1.What are they? How do
you do them? 2.Why are they useful in psychosocial interventions?
3.What considerations should you make regarding GENDER and AGE of
participants in these methods, and WHY?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Designing an assessment
1. Background information Reports Documents Completed assessments
by others 2. PSWB Info What info is missing to assess PSWB and PSS
needs? 3. Program considerations Time frame: short or long
term?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Designing an assessment
4. Data collection Appropriate and effective methods Review and
adapt previous tools Ensure every question is appropriately worded
If possible, pre-test Data collection Suitable and well trained
data collectors Approach (bring gifts/information leaflets?, time
of collection, etc)
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Exploring psychosocial
wellbeing Contextually, culturally defined MEANING of psychosocial
wellbeing typically differs from Population A to Population B Buzz
groups: Can you think of different populations that you know, where
the meaning of psychosocial wellbeing differs?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Exploring psychosocial
wellbeing How do you know when people in your community are doing
well? Not doing well? (meaning of PSWB) How are they doing now?
(PSS needs) What has changed in your daily life and in the
community following the crisis event? (meaning and needs) How are
people helping each other? (coping, social support systems) Example
questions:
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Exploring psychosocial
wellbeing What were the good things in your life prior to the
crisis event? (meaning of PSWB, PSS needs) What changes would be
desirable for you and for your community in the next month and
within a year? (meaning of PSWB, PSS needs) What would be good for
the children? (meaning of PSWB, PSS needs) How can you and your
community contribute towards such changes? (coping, resources)
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Examples of focus areas
in PSS assesments Basic Information Name/age/gender Loss of
livelihoods Loss of house Previous experience Psychological Death
of loved ones Witness death/traumatic events Separation from family
members Injury Perception and understanding of event Traumatic
experiences Feelings of stress Disturbing and unusual behaviour
Social Family structure Status in the community Available support
systems Access to assistance
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data Who
should collect data in a population affected by a crisis? Local
volunteers Trained in basic psychosocial support Trained in
appropriate data collection approach
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data Who
provides the information?
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data Who
provides the information? Local administration Teachers Parents
Children
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data -
triangulation Same Topic Adults FGDs Youth FGDs Children FGDs
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data -
triangulation Same Topic Adults FGDs Adults surveys Adults Key
informant interviews
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting psychosocial
data Sensitive, emotional topics Painful experiences High levels of
distress Fearful of the future/unknown Affected population Training
+ supervision - Providing PFA/PSS - Peer support - Self-care Staff
and volunteers Providing data = sharing = finding solutions =
empowerment = coping = improve PSWB Affected population
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data
1.Well planned and justifiable 2.Coordination 3.Clarifying aims and
procedures 4.Participatory and collaborative Ethical principals to
data collection
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Collecting the data
5.Comparison groups 6.Conduct and consent 7.Privacy and
confidentially 8.Anticipate adverse consequences Ethical principals
to data collection
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Interviewing children
Inform community Consent from caregiver AND child Interview in safe
spaces Specific training for working with children Ethical
principals to data collection with children
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Assessment analysis and
action
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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Final considerations In
groups of 4 discuss the 2 following statements and then explain
further to plenary 1.It is important to conduct psychosocial
assessments in collaboration with other stakeholders working in the
same area with the same population. 2.Share findings of
psychosocial assessments with others, both working with
psychosocial and with other focus areas.