Attachments
Preamble
Child protection practitioners are people who have chosen to dedicate their professional life to the protection of one of the most vulnerable groups in society: children, young people, caregivers and families. Child protection practitioners implement a wide range of activities, ranging from family tracing and reunification programmes to recreational activities that provide psychosocial support. Above all, child protection practitioners are people who stand up for children, who advocate for the best interests of the child in all arenas and seek out ways in which all sectors can contribute to the protection and well-being of children. This guide is intended to help child protection practitioners to realize their objectives.
As stated in the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings,1 MHPSS is not a stand-alone area, but one that should be integrated into all sectors.2 Robust cooperation across all sectors is needed for MHPSS to produce the desired outcomes.
This guide has developed recommendations based on interviews with specialists within the various sectors. It has been revised by other independent specialists and validated by a group of child protection coordinators and sector specialists. Notwithstanding these efforts, we are aware that inaccuracies may arise as a result of information that was unavailable at the time of drafting, as well as useful methods and resources that warrant inclusion. This is therefore intended to be a living document that will be updated and expanded over time. We invite you to contribute to the recommendations and share your suggestions and experiences with us.
In a humanitarian response at the national level, all sectors come together for the purposes of MHPSS in the national MHPSS Technical Working Group (TWG). Some knowledge of all sectors may promote more meaningful participation on the part of stakeholders in these MHPSS TWGs. The guide is also a helpful tool for facilitating productive conversations with colleagues from other sectors beyond the MHPSS TWG. Finally, the guidance materials provided may also be useful for case managers faced with the challenge of navigating between sectors to find the best solution for individual children and families.
We recommend that you read through the guide at least once to familiarize yourself with its contents, then keep it on hand for reference.
The Development Team