Piloting a Peer Support Mechanism for Counsellors in Sri Lanka
Focusing on the State Sectors for Social Services, Women and Child Affairs
Sri Lanka has a diverse and complex socio political context, which has had an impact in shaping the country’s mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) sector.
An almost three decade long civil war, the Asian tsunami, poverty and accelerated economic development have all left their imprints on the growth and development of the MHPSS sector in Sri Lanka. The Asia Foundation (TAF) began its work in mental health and psychosocial support around 2005, in response to the changes that were taking place in the country as a result of the war and the tsunami: displacement, increase in the number of war widows and women-headed families, a breakdown of social networks and social infrastructures and fundamental changes in family and community structures.
Mapping Study on the Capacity and Work Experience of Counselling Officers/Assistants Attached to the Ministries of Social Services and Child Development and Women’s Affairs
The National Institute for Social Development (NISD) was established by an Act of Parliament in 1992, and holds as its mandate “to enhance human resources for social development through the preparation of competent manpower in social work at all levels, generate and disseminate new knowledge and technologies for social work practice, provide specialized services for social welfare and social development.” In line with this mission, the Sri Lanka School of Social Work, a division of the NISD, conducts a two year Diploma programme in Social Work, a four year Bachelor’s degree programme in Social Work and a two year Master of Social Work degree programme. To complement this work, a Diploma in Counselling was first introduced in 2001 by the Training Division of the NISD, as an 18 month training programme conducted mainly over the weekends.
Mapping Study on the Capacity and Work Experience of Counselling Assistants Attached to the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs
The objective of this study is to support the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs (MCDWA) and the National Institute of Social Development (NISD), Ministry of Social Services to map the capacity, training needs and scope of work of the recently recruited 212 Counselling Assistants (CAs). The study is also to understand the infrastructure and support mechanisms currently in place to assist the work of the CAs.
Participant Handbook 2016
This Participant Handbook provides information, and references to resources which will guide you in the use of materials and tools to add value to your counselling skills.
Participant Handbook 2015
This participant handbook provides Counselling Officers / Assistants with reading materials and worksheets to apply skills and competencies within a proposed counselling process or framework in an effort to build standards and service quality into the counselling services offered through the Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.