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ASSESSMENTS PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT

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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

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PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ASSESSMENT Why are assessments needed? Assumptions Inappropriate Unrealistic psychosocial Interventions Realistic Appropriate Well-planned Psychosocial Interventions Psychosocial Assessments

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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.