CARE USA Peer Social Support Program (2007 – 2008)

Project Description
ENCOMPASS is working with the Braverman Group LLC in supporting CARE USA in launching a regionally based peer social support program to strengthen CARE’s internal capacity to meet the psychosocial needs of its field-based staff in 41 countries worldwide.  The operating environment of humanitarian organizations, including CARE, has become increasingly difficult with escalating political conflict, natural disasters and pervasive concerns about the safety and security of its staff.  Increasing workload, job insecurity and work-life integration have also been identified as significant concerns and sources of stress.  The ENCOMPASS/Braverman team has been working closely with CARE USA Headquarters in Atlanta to implement a program to train, coach and support a network of peer social support advisors in 10 Africa and six Asia countries where CARE USA has programs. 

Methodologies and Activities
In 2007, an intensive training workshop was conducted for 20 national staff of 10 CARE country offices in Africa as a pilot program for launching a peer social support program in those country offices.  Training consisted of basic information on human stress and response to trauma, as well as training in essential peer support skills.  Each country office also developed a strategic plan for the implementation of a peer support program tailored to the specific needs of their country office.  The ENCOMPASS/Braverman team provided ongoing support to the peer support teams through periodic coaching, technical support visits and consultation on specific issues and critical incidents as needed.  Given the highly successful experience of the peer social support program in Africa, a similar program was launched in six countries in Asia in June 2008.

Accomplishments
The first year of the program has seen a much greater awareness and commitment to staff wellness and social support, not only in the 10 pilot African countries, but globally in CARE USA.  The peer social support teams have not only provided individual support to CARE staff and their families, but have been able to influence systems changes through engagement of the senior management in country offices and collaboration with other program such as HIV/AIDS in the workplace.  Outcomes reported by the peer social support teams include:

• Improved staff morale and communications
• Improved relations between supervisors and line staff
• Better team work
• More effective response to critical incidents
• Better coordination and synergy between programs devoted to staff care
• More responsive leadership to staff needs and concerns
• Greater participation of staff in strategic planning at the country level

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