Human Services & Education

Historically, World Services staff and professional volunteer consultants have assisted in the design and implementation of international prevention programs including substance abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence in schools. International prevention programs also include new and state of the art social service program development, and a wide range of educational system reforms in Russia and other former Soviet countries. For a more comprehensive look at the programs historically developed and implemented by World Services, please click here.

International professional development exchanges, consultation and technical assistance are designed to demonstrate public / private partnerships as a key strategy in international human service delivery and community development. The significant role of volunteers in supporting international human service programs, the role of citizen boards and the cooperation between governments and citizens are all aspects of projects designed and implemented in this theme area.

Delegations Table

Results

Belarus: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

A USAID initiative, Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Belarus, focused on reducing the number of children in state-administered orphanages and boarding schools and increasing the number of children brought up with their natural families or in a family-like environment. World Services was selected to host a delegation of ten Belarus human service professionals in August 2006 through the USAID funded Community Connections program to explore the US approach to caring for vulnerable children.

During August, 2006, this Belarus delegation spent three weeks meeting with children and family human service agencies in La Crosse and Madison, Wisconsin. Through Community Connections, the participants considered strategies to:

Develop a child abuse protection system informed by US best practices in supporting vulnerable families and preventing child abuse and neglect.
Develop an alternative family care system for children in need of services.
Establish a cooperative and coordinated approach to the issue of child abuse through partnerships between government and NGOs.

Wisconsin human service professionals shared model approaches to child welfare, family support, and prevention. La Crosse County Human Services, Child and Family Resource Center, PATH, Family and Children’s Center, La Crosse School District, United Way, and Great Rivers 2-1-1. Delegates greatly appreciated the opportunity to dialogue with foster parents from La Crosse and La Crescent. In Madison, WI the visitors will meet with staff at the State Department of Health and Family Services as well as the Children’s Trust Fund.

Public awareness campaign launched in Minsk, Belarus to prevent child abuse

Child abuse blue ribbon campaign The Belarus delegates left Wisconsin wearing blue ribbon pins and blue wristbands given by the Wisconsin Children’s Trust Fund to promote awareness about child abuse prevention. Determined to initiate a similar awareness campaign in Belarus, they launched their first two projects in 2007. Delegates Andrey Makhanko and Margarita Priakhina provided leadership in planning Belarus’ first Blue Ribbon campaign. The first event included an exhibition entitled “Salty Childhood Under Blue Ribbon of April” which was co-sponsored by numerous international and domestic organizations. http://www.canee.net/salty_childhood

The second project was a training session held for 45 participants by delegate Andrey Makhanko and his colleagues. The session featured a multidisciplinary team approach to child protection. Through this team they are building support in Belarus among different community organizations to work together for the protection of children.

According to the Belarus USAID website, Tatyana Snitko is creating a family resource center modeled after resource centers she visited in Wisconsin. http://belarus.usaid.gov/accomp.shtml

http://www.worldlearning.org/13653.htm

As described above, World Services hosts citizen exchanges in the international human services theme through the Community Connections Program and with the Open World Leadership Center. Community Connections (link to a page in the “PARTNERS” section describing CC Program) is sponsored and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and administered by World Learning / FORECAST.

Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress, the Open World Program is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and countries of Eurasia and the Baltic States.

For more information on these or similar international professional development exchanges, please contact us at info@wslax.us.


Duluth and Minneapolis, MN La Crosse, WI	2006 “Social Assistance Infrastructure for Victims of Domestic Violence”	Moldova
La Crosse and Madison, WI	2006 “Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect”	Belarus


Local Host	Theme	Country
Local Host	Theme	Country
Santa Cruz, CA	2010: Education	Ukraine
Newton, IA	2010: Education	Ukraine
Irondequoit, NY	2010: Education	Ukraine
Buffalo, NY	2010: Education	Ukraine
Santa Clara, CA	2009 “Child Protection - Foster Care & International Adoptions”	Russia
Colorado Springs, CO	2009 “School Administrators: Secondary Education”	Kyrgyzstan
Grants Pass, OR	2009 “Elementary & Secondary Education”	Russia
Syracuse, NY	2009 “Higher Education in America”	Kazakhstan
Irondequoit, NY	2009 “Librarians”	Ukraine
Buffalo, NY	2009 “Secondary Education Administration:	Ukraine
Des Moines, IA	2008 “NGO development: Youth Services”	Russia
San Diego, CA	2008 “Education Administration and Policy”	Russia
Annapolis, MD	2008 “Enhanced Teacher Training”	Russia
Alcoa, TN	2008 “Information Technology and Librarians”	Russia
Portland, ME	2008 “Enhanced Teacher Training”	Russia
Waterville, ME	2008 “Secondary Education”	Russia
Syracuse, NY	2008 “Services for Persons with Disabilties”	Azerbaijan
Wausau, WI	2008 “Substance Abuse issues : HIV and TB”	Russia
Ypsilanti, MI	2008 “Social Services : Child and Youth programs”	Russia
La Crosse, WI	2007 “DisAbility Rights and Services”	Russia
Appleton, WI	2007 “Integration of Education and Social Services for Youth”	Russia