Reducing Risks: Developing the Psychosocial Capacity of Responders: Phase II

The organization has since expanded its efforts to respond to various natural disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, cyclones, and volcanic eruptions. Indonesia is ranked as one of the countries most vulnerable to natural disasters, with a high risk of disruption to its societies and economies. Despite efforts to improve disaster response, there has been limited action taken to mitigate the effects of disasters on mental health. Research has shown that natural disasters can have severe impacts on mental health, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), dissociative response, and anxiety. To address this issue, JDC has developed a three-pronged program to enhance the psychosocial capacity of first responders, expand and strengthen the professional network in psychosocial response, and pave the way for inroads at the policy-making level. The program, titled "Reducing Risks: Developing Psychosocial Capacity of Responders: Phase II," aims to refine the training model and create a locus of excellence in disaster preparedness. The curriculum will be integrated into the framework of the BNPB training center, with the goal of creating a national program of awareness raising and paraprofessional training. The expected outcome of this initiative is that the capacity built will influence the way Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is conceived and implemented in Indonesia, resulting in sustainable impact above and beyond the specific skills gained by participants. The program has outlined several key outputs, including: * 600 people receiving one-day psychosocial awareness programs across 30 communities/groups * 35 BNPB staff receiving training to deliver Psychosocial Response Team training curriculum and Leadership training * 1750 people receiving Psychosocial Response Team training executed by BNPB staff * 12,000 people trained in village-level psycho-education by Leadership Training graduates * 100 participants in capacity building training for the Crisis Center The first quarter of the program's implementation, spanning July-September 2015, has seen significant progress. JDC has finalized the contract with the University of Indonesia, ensuring full scope of programmatic and financial accountability. Meetings and preparations are underway for the first phases of programming to begin in Quarter 2. The development, implementation, and promotion of a refined curriculum is a key focus of the program. The improved curriculum will enhance the capacity of potential graduates to make a significant contribution to their communities through the integration of psychosocial mitigation and response within the context of general community development and overall DRR response. The program structure will be applied in the same four villages in the Bogor region where the Phase I pilot took place, with the goal of maintaining a critical mass of trained responders and creating a successful model of excellence that can be replicated elsewhere in the country. A five-day curriculum revision workshop will be held in mid-November, building upon interviews, focus groups, and feedback surveys from the Phase I trainings. The workshop will examine the modular teaching material and serve as a mechanism for evaluating the entire program. The revision process will be led by a team of stakeholders with first-hand knowledge of the program and its implementation.