Protection and Psychosocial Support Services for Children, Youth and Adults

finished

Ever since Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine began in February 2022, the Ukrainian population has been confronted with a variety of stressors. The conflict has significantly increased the likelihood of mental illness, which is currently estimated to affect 25% of the population.

Children are increasingly exposed to traumatic experiences and emotional stress, which have significant long-term negative consequences. Adolescents can be burdened by challenges in family dynamics, such as caring for younger siblings and/or mentally or physically impaired persons. The multiple effects of displacement, family separation and socio-economic pressure lead to increasing stress for caregivers and affect their coping skills. Because children are dependent on their caregivers for protection and socio-emotional support, their well-being is of paramount importance in improving the resilience of children and adolescents.

However, the conflict and displacement have further strained the country’s inadequately equipped and staffed social protection services, which in turn has led to considerable gaps in support for the most vulnerable. In response to the psychosocial needs of children and vulnerable adults affected by the conflict, the lack of access to basic protection services and the particular vulnerability of children and young people affected by conflict, Caritas Spes and Caritas Austria, with the support of Caritas Switzerland, are planning a comprehensive intervention to provide psychosocial services (PSS) and protection assistance.

This project aims to meet the psychosocial and protection needs of vulnerable, conflict-affected, internally displaced persons and host communities, particularly children and youth, in 8 regions of Ukraine.

The measure will promote the psychosocial well-being and resilience of 6,232 individuals. Psychosocial care and protection services will be provided in eight centres, youth centres and child-friendly spaces in eight project regions.

• Psychosocial services tailored to people's needs: The project conducts an assessment of child protection needs to identify priority needs and tailor preventive and supportive responses. Referral pathways are being established to ensure that child protection and mental health, psychological and social services (MHPSS) be optimized, and both individual and group MHPSS be provided for children, youth and adults. A particular focus is on the inclusion of vulnerable groups, including children in institutions, children with special educational needs, and children with disabilities. Also part of the project is protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as the prevention of gender-based violence.
• Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and members of the host community receive protection services: The beneficiaries are offered Case Management to inform them of their rights and entitlements and to facilitate their access to administrative and social protection services. They also receive basic psychological support and cash assistance. This approach aims to reduce their vulnerability and mitigate the risks to which they are exposed. The most vulnerable are internally displaced persons and members of host communities.
• In parallel, child protection services are being implemented using a community-based approach. This involves building capacity in communities to identify and respond to child protection needs. This increases the number of activities carried out, and also the reached number of children, young people and caregivers. In addition, it  engages community members and frees up professionals to carry out MHPSS activities. Safe spaces for children and young people promote their resilience and well-being, developing age-appropriate social skills which build self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Other components include coordination with national and international actors; the application of a “do no harm” approach; a binding duty of care for all staff; and conflict sensitivity. Technical capacity building is provided to the CSU for developing a nexus approach to link humanitarian, development, with economic aspects and peace-related work.