Who Is the Social Service Workforce?
The social service workforce is defined as being comprised of the variety of workers – paid and unpaid, governmental and nongovernmental – who staff the social service system and contribute to the care, support, promotion of rights and empowerment of vulnerable populations served by the social service system. A social service system is understood as a system of interventions, programs and benefits that are provided by governmental, civil society and community actors to address both the social welfare and protection of vulnerable populations. It includes elements that are preventative, responsive and promotive. The system and the workers within it create protective environments for healthy development and well-being by alleviating poverty; reducing discrimination; facilitating access to needed services; promoting social justice; and preventing and responding to violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and family separation.
Read more on how we're advocating for the workforce and strengthening the workforce. Also learn how this workforce provides critical support following emergencies.
Annual Symposium Raises Awareness, Grows Body of Evidence
The Alliance held its first Symposium in April 2014 to contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding the role of the social service workforce in promoting strong families and better futures for children. In June 2015, the Alliance held the 2nd Annual Symposium. Presentations focused on ways in which planning, developing and supporting the social service workforce can lead to more effective services to children and families and stronger systems of care. The symposium webcast is available on YouTube. The symposium presentations and written summary are now available to download. The Symposium also acted as the distribution event for the first annual State of the Social Service Workforce 2015 Report. The 3rd Annual Symposium was held in June 2016 under the theme "Strengthening the Continuum of Care for Orphan and Vulnerable Children." The event coincided with the release of the 2nd annual report. A summary report and webcast recording are now available.
Worker Profiles Highlight Diversity of the Workforce
A collection of worker profiles helps to shine a spotlight on various tasks and training of different types of workers, as well as what motivates them to stay on the job.
- Simon Peter Otieno, Project Manager and Founding Member, Make Me Smile Kenya
- Lutendo Maedza, Team Supervisor and Mentor, National Association of Child Care Workers (NACCW), South Africa
- Intan Puspitasari, Case Worker, Pdak Cianjur, Indonesia
- Sowedi Kitanywa, Senior Probation and Welfare Officer, Uganda
- Kiko Joyce, Child Case Care Worker, Bantwana Initiative, Uganda
- Lintle Letsika, Founder and Director, Footprints of Hope, Lesotho
- Shelton Tshuna, Child Care Worker, Zimbabwe
- Ssentamu Abdul, Case Care Worker, Uganda
- Bojana Brkic, Family Outreach Worker, Serbia
- Viorica Chirnicinîi, Community Social Worker, Moldova
- Chioniso Mangando, Case Care Worker in Zimbabwe
- Mercy Marima, Case Care Worker in Zimbabwe
- Jakes Jacobs, Community Child and Youth Care Worker, South Africa
- Annaliza Macababbad, Social Worker, Child Protection Unit, Philippine General Hospital
- Rosemarie Abadingo, Social Welfare Assistant, Women and Child Protection Unit in Tacloban City, Philippines
- Pinh Sokhom, Drug Project Coordinator, Mith Samlanh, Cambodia
- Nov Phalla, Outreach Project Manager, Mith Samlanh, Cambodia
- Majida Bashir, Case Care Worker, Protection and Help of Children Against Abuse and Neglect (PAHCHAAN), Pakistan
- Justin Silas, Social Worker and former Para Social Worker, Tanzania
- Hilaire Kalume Director, DISPE—Directorate of Social Interventions for the Protection of Children— Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
- Mohammed Adamu Adangba, State Child Protection Systems Mapping Coordinator, Nigeria
- Algassimou Diallo, Coordinator, Program Learning Group, Burkina Faso
- Dumizile Theodora Malatjie, OVC Coordinator, South Africa
- Lungi Mkhize, Child and Youth Care Worker and Supervisor, South Africa
- Sbongile Mzulwini, Child and Youth Care Worker, South Africa
We also feature case studies or stories that capture the efforts and successes of this workforce. Our current featured stories:
- NACCW Lwandile and Libode Isibindi Safe Parks Case Study, South Africa
- A Case Study Highlighting the Results of Integrated Child Protection and Care Treatment Programming in Namutumba, Uganda
- Creative Community-Led Approaches to Preventing & Responding to Child Abuse: A case study in Uganda
- A New Zest for Life: The difference made by a social service volunteer in Ethiopia
- Phelisanang Bophelong Promotes Community Solutions in Lesotho
- Isibindi Success Stories: Supporting Young People and Families Experiencing Violence
Share your story of change or submit a profile. We look forward to sharing your work with the Alliance network!
