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SocSc 14 Advocacy Paper Part 2

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Issue Engagement Proposal

The Philippines already have sound laws that could address the vulnerability of street
children and their lack of a loving and nurturing environment. Under these laws, victims of
any type of abuse, whether physical, emotional and psychological, or sexual, have the
protection of government interventions and are given rehabilitation care and necessities. As
of 2019, there are 75 Bahay Pag-asa centers in the Philippines. 72 of which are runned by
LGU, and the rest are operated by NGOs. Only a few of these centers are accredited. The
lack of implementation, resources, transparency, and compliance of youth centers such as
the Bahay Pag-asa are some of the current and rampant problems in these youth centers
(Jalea, 2019). Furthermore, programs are in need of reformation at a community level.

Community-level Reformation
When children are brought to youth centers, they are entitled by law to receive
lodging and food facilities, livelihood and skills training, as well as educational assistance
among other things. However, children may experience further abuse from the other children
in the center. As soon as they arrive in the facilities, they need to learn how to get along with
the other kids. The paper would like to add that these children be trained for mentorship
programs or workshops in addition to their education. Just as there are mentors in each
school organization, there should be student-mentors that new kids in the center can confide
in and learn from.

Furthermore, during the completion of their education and residency, the paper would
like to propose social work programs to train selected children into better leaders. They will
be taught in basic theory and practice, skills in social analysis, research, advocacy, social
action and social legislation. The LGU youth centers will partner with other communities and
the participants will consult with their communities, and conduct interviews to ask what are
the problems in the community and how the people think it can be solved. Professionals will
be invited to speak about their respective field of expertise and their experiences. Another
option would be to partner with institutions (i.e churches), and with private organizations
whose social responsibility is inline with the center’s advocacy. The participants will be
expected to deliver an integrated output at the end of the session that summarizes what they
have learned in the program and their immersion in the community.

Labor Resources
Despite the growing number of youth centers, there is a lack of resources such as
personnel and facilities. Currently, each social worker in the Bahay-pagasa centers handles
a minimum of 25 children with regular cases, and there is a social worker for every 10 cases
of intensive intervention (Jalea, 2019). However, with the increase of street children and the
current minimum age responsibility, some social workers had to handle around 100 cases
each. The paper proposes that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) partner with
schools and provide internships to graduate students, or any related course depending on
the job description. The JJWC and school will have to decide and agree on the training
modules, and an intensive interview should be conducted to curate future employees in
order to avoid problems. Interns will be on a probationary period with pay, if they fail they
can opt to retake the training and be tested again.

There is also an option to hire the children after their residency in the centers since
they have more empathy. The children who should be hired must have a relevant education
that can be applied to the benefit of the centers. Students who applied for livelihood and
skills training such as the Barangay Health Services, TVET, and ICT can increase the
manpower in the center (https://e-tesda.gov.ph/). At the end of their course, the students will
be required to finalize an output that will help improve the youth centers in relation to their
course. The internship for social work can be adjusted to the families of street children, and
they will undergo selection, training, and probationary periods with pay at the center. Apart
from working at the center, they can create their own organization and use what they learn to
improve awareness of issues in their communities.

Compliance and Transparency


According to the R.A 9344, the JJWC are to conduct regular and spot inspections of
the centers to ensure that there is compliance with the standards provided by the law. The
data derived from the inspection will be reported to the President annually, and used to
make necessary recommendations. The paper proposes that inspections of youth centers
and its activities should be done quarterly instead of annually. Social workers, and those
under training or probationary period, must take an active role in making necessary
recommendations by conducting weekly meetings and situational assessment of the children
and the center. In addition, they must also show transparency of their activities through its
budget, financial reports, and accomplishments.

Communication Management Plan


Job Hiring/Community Program/Training and Workshops- brochures
In order to garner the attention of the community, this paper proposes the use of
workshop brochures and the partnerships with LGU communities. The brochures will contain
information about the workshop and its programs and advocacy, the time and place, the
benefits, and contact numbers in case of any further questions. LGUs can opt to invite one
person per household, conduct a forum, and inform them of the opportunities of the
program, or tape the brochure at their doors. A collaboration between the center and other
LGUs is proposed to improve the management of the forum and to ensure that the delivery
of information is unadulterated when further questions are asked after the forum, or through
messaging and calls. Adjustment of workshops, benefits, activities and forums can also be
advised between the youth centers and LGUs to make the programs more desirable.

Transparency, Advocacy, Accomplishments and Programs- website


Apart from marginalized communities, it is also important to receive support from
other places, institutions, and organizations.This paper would like to propose the use of a
website for youth centers to disseminate information, and showcase transparency. The posts
will include budget, financial reports, as well as the stakeholders accomplishments and
participation of the programs. Gratitude will also be posted and named to a sponsor,
institution or organization for their contribution. Other posts should also contain news or the
external links thereof; insights, and testimonies from children, social workers, trainees and
probationary employees, which will be further discussed below. This does not limit to the use
of personal websites. Facebook and Instagram are viable options as well.

Stories- radio podcasts


Communications sometimes overlook the power of storytelling, and an isolated focus
on data, jargon, figures, and facts may create more barriers to knowledge than deeper
understanding (Hochstadt, 2013). This paper would like to propose radio podcasts where
public service, public affairs, justice and law issues, music, and personal stories/testimonies
can be heard on their websites. This would entail a workshop on the power of stories and
storytelling. Professionals can be invited to speak and give insights on how to create a
touching and cohesive story. The social workers then can impart that knowledge to the
children, other social workers, trainees and probationary employees through the proposed
workshops mentioned in this paper.

Capacity Checklist
For Workshops

Two Months Before the Workshop


Checklist of Activities
1. Develop a program, list of activities, objectives, and learning outcomes
2. Collaborate with TESDA, LGUs, or other organizations, to create a n-Saturday workshop
3. Decide on Venue, if applicable
a.) If traditional, partner with other local communities and book a venue (big enough to consider social
distancing), decide on catering, or use a space in the youth center
b.) If online, find out how many households have a computer and bandwidth, or check center’s bandwidth
4. Start identifying and inviting potential speakers/ leaders to the workshop

Two Weeks Before the Workshop


Checklist of Activities
1. Confirm time, dates, etc. with speakers and locals who have been invited to the workshop
2. Confirm on Venue, if applicable
a.) If traditional, confirm details with the venue
b.) If online, check bandwidth of both sides
3. Compile materials for the workshop (folder, handouts, activity sheets, paperclip, etc.)
4. Send announcements or reminders to the participants along with a complete agenda

One Week Before the Workshop


1. Print/photocopy all the materials needed for the workshop (i.e. handouts, guide questions)
2. Organize powerpoint slides, handouts, feedback/survey/ evaluation forms and other stationary (i.e. pens,
paper, id/name tags, etc.)

For Internships

Three Months Before the Internship


Checklist of Activities
1. Create a list of internship positions that are needed by the organization
2. Draft position descriptions for each internship
4. Develop a training program, budget, and a stipend for the interns
3. Assign staff members (with expertise) who will be responsible for running the internship programs,
as well as where they will be based.
5. Offer partnership and collaborate with schools on the terms and agreements, create a
memorandum of agreement
Two Weeks Before the Internship
Checklist of Activities
1. Draft an orientation program that introduces the intern to the organization, its culture and work
assignments, and policies
2. Draft interview questions
3. Confirm time, dates, etc. for interviews
4. Send announcements or reminders to the interviewees

One Week Before the Internship


1. Organize feedback/survey/ evaluation forms

For Transparency

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5


1. Curate accurate, concise, interesting
information about the center
– its mission, history, programmes and
services
4. Develop a website for the center
2. Conduct a situational assessment of the
facilities, its inhabitants,
its employees and its programs
3. Collaborate and draft suggested policies,
activities, guidelines and
budgeting cost, or other improvements
5. Assign staff members (with expertise) who
will be responsible for posting (i.e.information,
activities, financials and budgets, weekly
accomplishments and successful
collaborations) on the website

No. of Words 1650


References
Jalea, G. (2019, April 22). Bahay Pag-asa lacks resources, support. The Manila Times.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/04/23/news/top-stories/bahay-pag-asa-lacks-resources-
support/544001

Hochstadt, Z. (2013, March 15). On the Radio: Great Examples of Stories Bringing Life to
Complex Issues. Mission Minded. https://mission-minded.com/on-the-radio-great-examples-
of-stories-bringing-life-to-complex-issues/

https://e-tesda.gov.ph/

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