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Psychosocial support
In all situations, Save the Children works to protect boys and girls from harm and subsequent psychological distress. The psychological and social aspects of child development, and children’s overall health and well-being are continually compromised during the violence, insecurity and instability of crisis situations ranging from armed conflicts to natural disasters. Increasing attention has been paid over the past two decades to the importance of mental health and psychosocial interventions in emergencies and post-disaster humanitarian assistance.
Psychosocial support aims at preventing and reducing the negative impact of crisis situations on the emotional well-being of children and their families, and are designed to reach those most in need of psychosocial support. Programs include community-based activities that promote the ability of families and communities to support each other, resume everyday activities and heal from psychological distress (e.g. via parenting groups, children’s recreational and educational activities.)
Mental health interventions seek to mainstream management of pediatric anxiety and post-traumatic disorders in emergencies and, in more stable contexts, increase coverage of mental health interventions critical to maternal, newborn, and child health and well-being.
In addition, Save the Children members in higher-income countries have begun mental health programming in their domestic contexts, where they are targeting deprived populations and focusing on access to services for vulnerable children and mothers.
Photo: Ahmad Baroudi/Save the Children
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Save the Children Psychological First Aid Training Manual for Child Practitioners
The Psychological First Aid Training Manual for Child Practitioners (PFA) was developed by Save the Children Denmark for the Child Protection Initiative, to facilitate training in psychological first aid with a focus on children. It is aimed at developing
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Psychosocial Care for Unaccompanied Minors in Europe: Is there an economic case? (Discussion paper)
This discussion paper aims to provide an overview of the scope of activities of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in relation to the protection of unaccompanied migrant children and support for this group. It significantly draws on IOM’s
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Programme on the Move: Boxes of Wonder promising practices in refugee education case study
During the European Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Serbia, Psychosocial Support (PSS) emerged as an important pillar of response to the refugees and migrants in rapid transit and for those staying longer in Serbia. Save the Children invested in a PSS progr
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Lyssnar vi? En feedbackstudie: Barns, undomars och föräldrars feedback till Rädda Barnen 2018
This study was produced in cooperation with two of Save the Children Sweden’s offices that provide support to children, young adults, and parents who have fled to Sweden. The aim of the study is take stock of whether or not Save the Children Sweden’s meth
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IFRC Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Psychosocial Support Interventions
The IFRC M&E framework for psychosocial interventions was developed by the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (PS Centre) to promote best practice in M&E throughout IFRC global psychosocial (PS) programmes. This initiative contributes to quali
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Trainingshandbuch zur Psychologischen Ersten Hilfe für Kinder (PFA)
Published 2017, the German version of the Psychological First Aid Training Manual for Child Practitioners (PFA) is a condensed psychological first aid training based on the original two-day Psychological First Aid Training for Child Practitioners. It buil
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INEE Background Paper on Psychosocial Support and Social and Emotional Learning for Children and Youth in Emergency Settings
The purpose of the paper is to clarify relevant terminologies and approaches relating to psychosocial well-being and social and emotional learning (SEL) in education in crisis-affected contexts, and to explore how psychosocial support (PSS) and social and
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Bosnia HEART Evaluation
HEART, which stands for Healing and Education Through the Arts, is an arts-based approach to providing psychosocial support for children affected by serious or chronic stress. It uses the arts to help children process and communicate feelings related to t
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The Youth Resilience Programme: Psychosocial support in and out of school
The Youth Resilience Programme: Psychosocial support in and out of school has been developed by Save the Children as an independent continuation of the Children’s Resilience Programme. The programme is a nonclinical psychosocial and protection methodolo
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Save the Children's Child Resilience Programme
Save the Children's Child Resilience Programme is a nonclinical psychosocial and protection methodology that focuses on children's positive coping and resilience. Inspired by the Resilience Research Centre, Save the Children's interpretation of resilience
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Ukraine: Protecting Children affected by conflict
Twelve-year-old Victoria* fled her home in eastern Ukraine when her town was shelled. She now lives in Sloviansk and attends Save the Children’s Child Friendly Space (CFS). Victoria’s mother registered her in the CFS because the conflict had affected her
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Childhood in the Shadow of War
Now in its fifth year, the armed conflict in Syria continues to increase in intensity. More and more civilians are being driven from their homes to seek safe shelter elsewhere in the country, or, increasingly, outside of Syria’s borders, which has led to