Content Expertise & Technical Assistance
In addition to developing manuals, project documents, reports, etc. in-house, Shuchona Foundation engages in providing input to materials developed by others. These are often in the form of being active members in committees working to develop manuals such as the one for the ‘School Mental Health’ program, Technical Committee on WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (SIMH); and providing content expertise for the formulation of policy documents such as Bangladesh’s National Mental Health Policy. SF addresses this through a multi-sectoral approach to the holistic management of neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health, focusing on lifespan needs of PwDs and in mental health.
For instance, the collaborative approach and standardized application to provide psychosocial support in disaster at the community level with professionals, has led to designing the training program titled “ToT on Strengthening Capacity of Crisis Responders on addressing Mental Health Issues within Crisis Preparedness and Management”, which includes a research-based manual. Shuchona Foundation has provided content expertise for the development of the training manual on Crisis Preparedness for the Management of Mental Health which aims to equip non-specialists with the skills needed to provide psychosocial support at the community level during crisis situations. The training is received by professionals from different ministries, national and international NGOs, and other organizations who work in the field of disaster management. Partners for this initiative include Department of Disaster Management and Relief of MoDMR, CDD, IOM, UNHCR, and WHO-SEARO.
