DSWD to provide psychosocial services to traumatized kids

FILE: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)(Photo: Department of Social Welfare & Development/ Facebook)

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is ready to offer psychosocial services to children who had traumatic experiences to help restore their overall sense of well-being.

“The DSWD has center-based and community-based programs and services for children who have been victims of abuse or exposed to trauma, in general. Depending on the assessment of social workers, we can also provide other available specialized services in our centers,” said Adel Guerrero, psychologist of the DSWD’s Protective Services Bureau (PSB) in a news release issued Thursday.

The department’s center-based programs provide alternative forms of family care in 24-hour residential care facilities on a temporary basis for individuals, including children, whose needs cannot be met by their families for a specified period.

Community-based programs, on the other hand, are preventive, rehabilitative, developmental programs and initiatives that mobilize the family and community in responding to issues of children and other sectors who are in need or at risk.

“In general, children are resilient. But when they are exposed to traumatic events, they are at greater risk of suffering from trauma. Their developmental level might be affected, especially those without adequate protection or support,” explained Guerrero.

She said the type of intervention they provide depends on the emotional state of the traumatized children.

Social workers, who are also usually the case managers, make an assessment and integrate the recommendations of a multidisciplinary team, based on what they deem is the most appropriate intervention for a child, she added.

“In our centers, we have play therapy para doon sa ‘di masalita na bata at yung mahirap tanungin ng diretso (for children who do not talk much or do not answer directly). Yung iba naman, especially the teens, na di kumportable makipag-usap one-on-one, sila ay dumadaan sa (While those who are not comfortable with one-on-one conversations, especially the teens, they undergo) arts and expressive therapy, as well as dance and movement therapies, such as the Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Angola,” said Guerrero.

According to DSWD PSB director Alicia Bonoan, apart from psychosocial services, the department provides other forms of assistance to individuals and families in crisis situations.

“Meron pong mga assistance na binibigay ang DSWD through our Crisis Intervention Unit katulad ng medical, education, transportation, and burial assistance. Mayroon din tayongsustainable livelihood program (The DSWD, through its Crisis Intervention Unit, provides medical, education, transportation, and burial assistance. We also have a sustainable livelihood program),” Bonoan said.

“We are always here to help, but we want to reiterate that the first responder is always the local government unit (LGU). We have counterparts in social welfare development offices in cities and municipalities. We provide services in partnership with the LGUs. Kung ano ang kakulangan, mag-augment tayo sa pamamagitan ng ating mga regional offices (We augment whatever is still needed through our regional offices),” she said. (DSWD PR)