May 2011
Report for the Stakeholders of AFESIP psychology development project
Staff Hire
- The Trauma Care Specialist & Clinical Supervisor volunteer, Candace Blase, began work on 20 April. She has begun an assessment of current practices/policies/procedures in the AFESIP psychology department. She has also begun to make connections with other NGO’s providing psychological services to sex-trafficking survivors. Additionally, she is compiling an array of training resources and material from within Cambodia and internationally.
- Psychologist Chum Chantha was hired to work at the Kampong Cham Centre. She began training on 10 May. She has been trained on sex trafficking, basic therapeutic care of trauma survivors, and assessment of trauma survivors. She has been at the center 2 days for training and to meet children and staff. She will begin work full-time at the center on 13 June.
- The Clinical Coordinator position was advertised and 8 applications were received. 3 candidates were short-listed and 1 highly-qualified candidate applicant has had a second interview. A final interview with Mr. Chhoeurth is being scheduled.
Partnership with Ragamuffin
- Ragamuffin has conducted 43 assessments with clients at the Kampong Cham center.
- First meeting of full Kampong Cham therapeutic team was held 10 May. Two subsequent meetings have taken place and plans are in process for establishing regularly scheduled treatment team meetings to discuss and evaluate individual cases on an ongoing basis.
- Ragamuffin and AFESIP are reviewing assessment drawings and developing plan to institute individual care plans for clients at the center.
- Ragamuffin has begun individual therapy with 5 clients.
AFESIP Psychology Department Development
- Psychologists have been hired for all AFESIP centers.
- First meeting of the psychology department was held on 10 May. All staff introduced themselves to each other and began discussion of current practices.
- System for psychologists to send weekly reports to Clinical Coordinator has been put in place (reports to be sent to Candace pending hire of Clinical Coordinator). Reports to include therapeutic activities and issues with cases.
- Candace has visited all three centers and met with all psychologists to assess practices and concerns. Residents at Siem Reap are reporting high levels of anxiety, depression, and PTSD-like symptoms. Plans are being developed for further training of Siem Reap psychologist to address these issues.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Assessment data from the Ragamuffin art therapy assessments is being reviewed and evaluated. Residents verbally report being happy at the center and largely focusing on doing well in school and moving forward with their lives. The drawings themselves show underlying high levels of anxiety and sense of longing for family. Care is being taken not to undermine the girls’ feeling of “happiness” until such time as a strong therapeutic container can be developed at the Center. In the meantime, supportive interventions will be used to build residents internal strength and coping skills.
- Candace is identifying new assessment tools to gather a more comprehensive bio/psycho/social profile of AFESIP residents. The goal is to implement the assessment to gain baseline data on functioning for use in determining impact of therapeutic interventions. The new assessment tool will be integrated with the AFESIP database. Assessments will be administered pre and post therapeutic interventions.
- Candace is investigating use of a diagnostic system using the ICD-10 (World Health Organization’s internationally used diagnostic manual for physical and mental health). This will help us to more clearly identify client issues and develop more targeted interventions. Also, this will allow us to communicate more effectively with other international programs doing mental health interventions.
Resource Development
- Art therapy room has been mostly set-up. Plans to increase art supplies and create drawing surfaces are in place.
- Review of psychology department expenditures has taken place and discussions are in progress to address issues and improve services.
Staff Training
- Kampong Cham and Siem Reap psychologists went on 2-day training regarding sex-trafficking.
- KC and SR psychologists attended training on CEPAT assessment tool developed by World Vision and Johns Hopkins University. Tool is designed specifically for use with sex-trafficking survivors in Cambodia.
Funding
- All funding has been transferred.
Next Steps
- Hire of Clinical Coordinator
- Full outfitting of art room at Kampong Cham
- Continued treatment team planning of services for Kampong Cham residents
- Further training for KC Centre staff on trauma symptoms and care
- Continuing coordination with other NGO’s providing similar services to share best practices
- Selection of assessment tool and beginning of administering it to residents
- Development of psychology department policies and procedures
- Ongoing training for AFESIP psychologists
- Regular psychology department meetings
- Selection of diagnostic system and training of staff on this system
- Further investigation of effective therapeutic interventions and training, implementation re these interventions
Visit by New Day
- Seven (7) members of New Day visited Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham on 26 and 27 May. At the Center they engaged in an art activity and tree planting ceremony with the children. (pictures below)