Maternal and Child Health Competence; is there any requirements to make practices due to those respective issues..

[wiwin winarni]

Dear All...

After close discussion with one of field chief officer UNICEF West Java Province - Indonesia, at 7 Januray 2010 I will be assigned to facilitate exit strategy session for UNICEF project at 5 districts by using SALT approach particularly on self assessment and develop POA of selected dreams they prefer. The meeting will be attended by 200 participants. Is it possible to conduct SALT approach among 200 participants? Is there any requirements to develop practices since dreams thta they will achieve is those releted to maternal and child health. Project site district also very encourage to endorse local law due the respective issues. Kindly provide me some input and suggestion..I do thank you

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Dear Wiwin,

Gaston has done a great job of suggesting the way to faciliate a group of 200 people. I have also seen that use of dance and music is very helpful in managing large groups. My friends in Indonesia have used these tools in application of a strength based approach quite similar to ACP.

Best wishes for the event.

Warm regards,

Rituu

[Gaston]

Dear Wiwin,

It is great you get this opportunity. Is it possible with 200 people? Definitely.

If you have 200 participants, I would aim to get at least 5 facilitators - perhaps one per district. 10 is even better.
- Brief well together the day before the event with these people. Prepare the room for both plenary (in a circle) as well as 5 or more groups with sufficient A4 paper, markers, flipchart etc.
- After introductions and expectations, let people draw their individual dreams about their district being competent (in terms of maternal and child health). Let them put the dreams together per district.
- Together, determine which practices would lead to a competent maternal and child health district in West Java? Aim for max 15 practices. Think about 'categories' that are not too technical. So these practices are different than the specific actions/ local responses that communities can do to advance on a particular practice. For example, my communities can organize monthly sessions on child health (the 'local response') to improve on the practice ('acknowledgement & recognition').
- Once you have that framework that everybody agrees upon and feels ownership on, ask them to do their self-assessment as a district. Take time for this in order to stimulate a good discussion.
- Once this is done, they can choose three practices and draw up their action plan (POA) for the next 6-12 months (or any other timeframe they choose).
- The great opportunity you have is that the 5 districts can learn and share with each other. If you have time for this, you can already put districts together that have something to learn from each other. For example district 1 wants to improve on practice 3. District 5 has already found some ways to improve on that. Enable time for these people to meet and discuss. You don't need too strict facilitation there. People will learn and exchange naturally.
- Take time for a way forward, especially related to the connection between the districts. How can they stay in touch and keep on learning? This will stimulate the actions to continue and keep motivation high.

I hope this helps. Please keep us posted on the developments.

Kind regards,
Gaston

[Laurence Gilliot]

Dear Wiwin,

Thanks for your message!

I have a few questions to clarify your request for input. What is POA?
The 200 participants will be in one meeting?
Will you be the only facilitator or will you facilitate in a team?
How much time do you get?
What is the purpose of the meeting? What does UNICEF expect at the end of the session?
- to build a vision for the future?
- to assess the situation today?
- to get an introduction to SALT?

Thanks a lot for clarifying. Happy New Year celebration :-)

Laurence