World Social work day was observed on Tuesday as a day to celebrate, quote "Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind".
And it's in that spirit that the hosts of Sunup on 7 today sat down with two of Belize's social workers, Georgia Oshon and Lori Cunningham to discuss the country-specific challenges of the job. Here's what they told us:
Lori Cunningham - Social Worker, DHS
"Basically the main challenge would be the human resources right which is both an internal and external factor, so as Ms. Oshon rightly said, regarding the human resources we are very understaffed, which comes from basically being underpaid as well, but the challenges varies geographically, Belize City is different than out district because we have more resources here regarding to vehicles here regarding access to counseling, the health system on a whole. Going to work out district it is different, there are certain districts that don't even have a vehicle at all and in the districts they have one vehicle, so if one officer is out dealing with a situation and an emergency comes in, then they are expected to still be able to get the work done and we would liaise most of the time with police department and then sometimes they have an issue too with transportation. So, all of that. Additionally, when it comes to the medical, here in Belize City we have our private entity we would work with some times a part from KHMH, out district that is not really available and we some what work around the clock. While Belize City and the Cayo district would have an on call system, we work 8 to 4, we're still expected to work after hours if anything come in, it's basically your out there and you have to figure it out on the spot and then while here in Belize City we might have 8 child protection officers in Belize City, out in the district we would only have one."
But while there are many challenges, there are things that the government of Belize, the public at large, and the families that may be under investigation can do to work hand in hand with social workers.
Here are just some of the changes that these social workers believe would strengthen their efforts:
Lori Cunningham
"Cooperation, cooperation is number one right, at the end of the day we are here to you know enhance family and uplift them, they see us as the enemy sometimes because we separate them but I always tell people that I prefer to have separation for a three months than it be forever you know we don't want it to be the end of life, worse case scenario, so it's simple cooperation and communication but it is a challenge and I know you've done a study as well when it comes to mental illness and that is a big challenge that we have in Belize on a whole, and we social workers are not exempted from that. Majority of the clients that we are getting now, suffer with some sort of mental illness and that is another challenge because we don't have the proper facility to really place children and adolescent suffering from mental illness and their family, that is more difficult. That is challenge that is beyond them. So, we appeal as well to work more with ministry of health, I know that we've had ask for different multi-agency meetings to get in for us to work smoothly together because it doesn't only take the ministry of human development to really enhance the lives of these families but it take other entities to come in as one."
Oshon and Cunningham reminded viewers that any report of child abuse or neglect made to their department remains completely confidential.
