MINISTRY OF SOCIAL CARE, CONSTITUENCY EMPOWERMENT

AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

BARBADOS

I.S.E. E. Bridge Pilot Project Launch

July 29, 2011

The Puente (Bridge) Model

The Puente Programme is seen as a best practice developed in Chile and used by many countries.

It was used by the OAS in a Horizontal Technical Cooperation Programme for the Caribbean , with a useful framework and point of reference for the adaptation of concept and materials to the Caribbean reality.

Participating CountriesPhase I (2007-2009)JamaicaTrinidad and TobagoSt. LuciaPhase II(2009 to present)BarbadosSt. Kitts and NevisSurinameSt. Vincent and the Grenadines

• An initiative within the Ministry of Social Care’s Poverty Alleviation and Reduction Programme, overseen by the Inter Ministry Task Force to Monitor and Strengthen the Social Safety Net and involving several Ministries/agencies

• A household intervention programme with a goal transform the lives of poor and vulnerable household members.

•The first phase of the programme will be a two year pilot project commencing in October , 2011.

What is the I.S.E.E. Bridge Programme

Why the I.S.E.E. Bridge Programme?

Poor and vulnerable are not well targetted in current Social Protection Network System

System is generally reactive.Evidence of a cycle of inter-generational poverty and pockets of

poverty Existence of a dependency syndrome, influenced by a learned

helplessness, among users of the social services.Clients not totally engaged and are showing little autonomy.Existing lack of co-ordination among social service providers, and

weak reporting monitoring and evaluation systems.

Significance of I.S.E.E. Bridge Programme

I.S.E.E. is a strategy developed in Barbados since 2008 that will encourage the movement of persons from a state of dependency to empowerment, in four areas (I.S.E.E.) of critical intervention.

i. Identification/Assessment

ii. Stabilization

iii. Enablement

iv. Empowerment

SYMBOLISM OF THE BRIDGEA gateway to social inclusion and integrationA conduit for connection to opportunities

that are being offered in the wider society.Improvement and enhancement of delivery of

services to the poor and vulnerableImproved coordination among State

institutions.

SYMBOLISM OF THE BRIDGE cont’d

Connects individuals within households to the centre of the programme by:

Building aRoad forIndividualDevelopment: towards theGoal ofEmpowerment

SSN Expanded Committee

-Social PolicyCabinet-S.S.N Reps-Frontline Workers-C.S.O reps

10 households

Emphasis on client capacity building

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Oversight Committee

Encouragement of Civil Society to use this new ISEE approach in their programmes

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Need for greater transparency

Wider stakeholder participation

Wider coverage of poor and vulnerable households

To fully “Barbadianise” the initiative while embracing the Chilean Model as a best practice.

Main Adjustments and the Context of Changes

30 householdsSelection of local Trainers.

What is the I.S.E.E. Bridge Pilot Project?

The Pilot project will target thirty (30) households.A holistic approach to the development of the household

members will be utilized.Interventions will seek to reduce the risks to households

in the areas of Vital Statistics, Education and Human Resource Development, Health Promotion , Family Dynamics, Housing Conditions, Employment, and Income (7 Pillars).

Personal Development, Work Experience/Skills Enhancement, Life Skills and Micro Enterprise Development will be facilitated.

What is the I.S.E.E. Bridge Pilot Project cont’d?

The project will rely mainly on existing social safety nets in most instances, through collaboration with and referrals to State agencies and civil society.

A database of Social Safety Net Services prepared by the Bureau of Social Policy Research and Planning will be a key referral tool

A Priority Attention System will be carefully designed to facilitate timely access to State services.

To break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and transform the lives of members of the thirty poor and vulnerable households

The major criterion which will qualify a household to enter the Programme is intergenerational poverty. For the purpose of the Programme, we will define intergenerational poverty as –

a phenomenon in which there is deprivation of a social, economic, cultural, emotional nature, and

where two generations or more are faced with major challenges mainly due to their parents’ background, and where the socio-economic conditions have not changed over two generations

Definition of Intergenerational Poverty

Definition Cont’d This cycle traps families/households, and

deprives them of resources, thus tackling poverty will involve the provision of support and opportunities aimed at sustaining and empowering members of a household.

Usually manifesting weaknesses in health care, education , relationships,skills, life skills, job preparedness and living in very poor housing conditions

Pilot Project Target GroupThirty (30) poor and vulnerable householdsOne household will be selected from each of the

thirty constituencies , mainly from existing databases.

Methodology• Participatory interventions with the

household members, with psycho social support.

• A Manual for 22 working sessions with the households over a 24 month period

• Training of Household Facilitators , Supervisors, and other personnel by a cadre of Barbadian and Caribbean professionals ,with the help of the OAS

Eligibility Criteria1. Households exhibiting signs of

intergenerational poverty. In these cases records e.g. referral forms multiple agencies, will provide the evidence of the level of impoverishment.

2. Households with vulnerable members such as small children, the disabled, the elderly and members who have physical or mental challenges.

3. Households in which an extended family, or multiple households reside.

Eligibility Criteria Cont’d4. Households where there is risk of

incestuous relationships, physical or emotional abuse, and attendant problems.

5. Female * or male headed households in which there are several youth who are at risk to drugs – including alcohol; domestic or gender based violence; transactional sex; gambling or bullying.

6. Households in which the head is single or unemployed or underemployed.

* Trends to be reflected in the distribution of cases

As in the Puente model, central to the I.S.E.E Model is the use of a Manual which provides guidance to the Household Facilitator for every session with the household /family, and general directions to encourage the growth of the household / family towards empowerment. Supporting questions , materials, and exercises , provide for an interactive approach.

In addition a Game Board is to be used which depicts the general life goals and the role of the Pillars in life , with separate Thematic Game Boards for each of the Pillars.

Materials: Manuals, Game Board and Thematic Board

ManualsA translation of the Chilean Manual for

Household Sessions was provided to participating countries by the IASPN

A Caribbean manual was subsequently developed by the OAS based on the experience of the first three countries in Phase I and made culturally relevant to the Caribbean

Barbados is now finalising its own Manual and Handbook for Trainers with the assistance of a Consultant. The final draft is expected by the middle of August. It will be reviewed by the Expanded Committee of the Social Safety Net Task Force.

MSCD and Inter Ministry Task Force to Monitor and Strengthen the Social Safety Net

•Poverty (Coordinator) •Oversight Committee •Social Safety Net-Expanded Committee

Household Intervention Strategy (H.I.S.)•Trainers•Supervisors•Household Facilitators

Welfare Departmen

t I.S.E.E Bridge Unit

Governmental and Non-governmental services

and programmes

Families/ Households

Interaction and feedback

Representation of Families’

Response to H.I.S

The operating framework for the ISEE Bridge Programme and Pilot Project

Desired OutcomesAn integrated social policy framework for the

delivery of social services.A targeted, sustainable and holistic approach

to the provision of social services.Client engagement in problem solving

accompanied by committed Government assistance.

Co-responsibility and autonomy capacities that allow clients to be active change agents in their own lives and not passive recipients

Desired Outcomes cont’dThe acquisition of skills pertinent to the

manpower needs of the country as well as coping skills

An inspired, innovative approach to client self-development

More direct psycho-social support to the most vulnerable.

Inclusion of the poor and vulnerable in the mainstream of Barbadian society.

THANK YOU!Prepared by

Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment

and Community DevelopmentBARBADOS

In collaboration with the Bureau of Social Policy, Research and Planning