The Bicol Express Vol 2

I had an ah-ha experience this week, and I think I am finally understanding what they want me to do.  It is an interesting challenge to; 1, speak a different language and 2, try to see an image someone has created who knows the organisation like the back of his hand and want you, no needs you, to see the same thing; but I think I am getting it.

Simon’s main aim is as an advocacy agency for people with disabilities.  They have a tone of different programs, including eye and ear screening, holiday programs for children with disabilities, a rehab center, prosthetics, orthotics    and adaptive equipment workshop, Community Based Rehab (CBR), an Early Intervention Program (EIP) and direct advocacy with local and national government (all done with under 30 staff).

I will be working mostly with EIP and physically assessing and treating clients within the Rehab center (CBR program) at Galilee.  Simon’s role within these programs is as a tertiary community centre that trains, mentors and advocates for local health centers.  Simon also runs its own center (Galilee for rehab, and hopefully soon its own play program, as soon as I design it).  They do this to demonstrate a model of best practice, that other clinics  can mirror and take back to their local towns and to keep their skills up to date.  The local health centers are usually run by team of health professionals, often just 1 physio and maybe 1 Social worker, and are funded by the local government.  Each center is then responsible for sourcing their own community workers (called Facilitators within the Early Intervention Program or ROI’s for the Rehab program).  Simon also runs mentorships and training programs for the ROI and Facilitators.

My job is to design a training program for the EIP facilitators, train up the trainers and then run several workshops for the Facilitators, in an attempt to formalise the training as well as increase the skills of the current facilitators. A small job within 8 months.

I am excited about sinking my teeth into it. The outcomes still change every day, but instead of it looking like a whole new project, the idea or request just becomes another section that fits in well to the over all goal.  I got to see a facilitator in action this week within the community as well as a play group at one of the rehab centers. It was an eye opening experience.  The family I saw all had TB, very basic bamboo hut with nil sanitation and high levels of malnourishment.  It was very evident how directly malnourishment linked with developmental delay.  The Facilitator was awesome, she was one of the original members of Simon and trained as an early education teacher prior.  She was so engaging and graded the activity perfectly.

I also ran a focus group with the current facilitators to see what the training module should contain.  Lots of ideas are developing and the skeleton is taking shape.  I think I can assist a bit with the play group, currently there is no structure or planned activities for the groups, the kids turn up and complete ranging exercises and walking activities.  Watch out creativity here I come!

I start in clinic this week so I can see first hand the type of children that they see and hopefully continue to build the skeleton a little more.