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Save the Date - SSWS Webinar on Attracting and Retaining Workers - August 8

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/22/2013 - 11:17am

Social Service Workforce Webinar Series

(This webinar has already been held.  A summary and recording have been posted here.)

 Supporting the Social Service Workforce: 

Tools for attracting and retaining workers in underserved areas

Thursday, August 8, 2013

9:00 am EDT - 10:30 am EDT 

 

Supporting the social service workforce is, in many ways, the most neglected component of social service workforce strengthening. We all understand the importance of planning and financing the workforce and training and developing the workforce. But once we have recruited and trained workers, how do we keep them on the job, happy, and performing to the best of their ability?  What attracts, retains, and satisfies health workers and teachers is not very different from what attracts, retains and satisfies social service workers.  Many of the tools, resources and initiatives used to increase retention and improve job satisfaction of workers in other fields can be applied to the social service workforce. During this webinar, we will hear from two colleagues engaged in efforts to attract and retain health workers, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities.

Speakers:

Dr. Carmen Dolea, of the Health Systems Policies and Workforce division of the World Health Organization, will discuss Global Recommendations for increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention.
 
Wanda Jaskiewicz, CapacityPlus Senior Team Leader, Global Leadership and Health Workforce Effectiveness at IntraHealth International will present on the use of the Rapid Retention Survey Toolkit in Laos to help determine the relative importance health workers place on different job characteristics and predict their decision-making about job postings.

 

For more resources related to retention of social service workers, please visit our resource database here.

 

This webinar is supported by PEPFAR/USAID and CapacityPlus. 

 

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The Global Social Service Workforce Alliance Celebrates Its Launch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/07/2013 - 12:00am

The Global Social Service Workforce Alliance officially launched on June 6. The Alliance is comprised of a collaborative network of stakeholders who will help address key social service workforce issues. 

A well-planned, well-trained and well-supported social service workforce can effectively deliver services to improve the lives of vulnerable populations. However, a number of challenges confront this workforce and limit its ability to create protective environments for children and families who face poverty, discrimination, violence and exploitation in their daily lives. 

In its mission, the Alliance recognizes the key challenges facing this workforce and aims to promote the knowledge and evidence, resources and tools and political will and action needed to address them, especially within low to middle income countries.  

“The social service workforce is critical for creating protective environments for healthy development and well-being and tackling poverty; promoting social justice; ensuring protection from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect; and providing needed services to care for and support those who need it most,” commented Ummuro Adano of Management Sciences for Health, a steering committee member of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance. 

This observation, along with many others provided from organizations and individuals committed to strengthening the social service workforce worldwide, set the stage for the launch of the Alliance during two webinars held on June 6 and 7. 

During the launch webinar, Amy Bess, Alliance coordinator, described how to become involved in the work of the Alliance and introduced participants to the new Global Social Service Workforce Alliance website, which will act as a platform for information-sharing and advocacy. Through the website, future Alliance members can register to become a member.  Members can contribute to knowledge on the social service workforce through the Alliance’s Resource Database and monthly e-updates, connect with others through the social service webinar series and interest groups and join others in advocacy efforts. 

For those looking to be a part of the global movement to strengthen this key workforce, the Alliance welcomes you to become a member and work with others to help realize this vision.

View a recording of the launch here.

Many organizations publicized the launch. Read some of their articles and blogs: 

Anonymous's picture

Webinar to Mark the Launch of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance - June 6 and June 7, 2013

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/23/2013 - 3:52pm

Connecting People, Transforming Lives: Launch of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance  

June 6 and June 7, 2013

The Global Social Service Workforce Alliance is hosting a one-hour webinar to give participants the opportunity to learn more about the Alliance, hear about the importance of this initiative to support those who work with vulnerable children and families, and discover how they can become involved in ways that best fit their current personal, professional, and organizational situations.

In order to optimize opportunity for participation across time zones, the Alliance is holding the same session twice. Participants are invited to join either session.

Session 1: Thursday, June 6 at 9:00 am New York, 4:00 pm Nairobi, 8:00 pm Bangkok. Participate in this session by clicking here. (This link will become active 30 minutes before the start time.)

Session 2: Thursday, June 6 at 6:00 pm Los Angeles, 9:00 pm New York / Friday, June 7 at 8:00 am Bangkok, 9:00 am Beijing, 10:00 am Tokyo, 11:00 am Sydney. Participate in this session by clicking here. (This link will become active 30 minutes before the start time.)

The Alliance’s vision is to work toward a world where a well-planned, well-trained, and well-supported social service workforce effectively delivers services that improve the lives of vulnerable populations. In short, its aim is: improve the workforce, improve lives.

To realize this vision, the Alliance seeks members to join and to engage with leaders and colleagues to help strengthen the workforce through advancing knowledge, exploring shared issues and promising practices, and becoming strong advocates. In practice, this means:

  • Connecting with others facing similar challenges

  • Contributing your best ideas and best practices to address these challenges

  • Learning about creative initiatives being undertaken by others

  • Joining with others to advocate for needed changes and resources at both the global and country levels

  • Being part of a global movement to strengthen this key workforce

  • Increasing your impact, amplifying your voice.

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