Co-train Health Personnel to Promote Healthy Environments in Families
Eligibility
Open to all RPCVs
Activity/project background
Partner: Regional Directorate of Health of Ancash - Directorate of Health Promotion and Education (Government)
The Regional Directorate of Health (DIRESA) of Ancash - Directorate of Health Promotion and Education in Peru implements the Healthy Housing Program that aims to help families develop positive behaviors and generate healthy home environments. Through integrated actions, it seeks to encourage behaviors and habits that generate a healthy life among family members. Thematic priorities include food hygiene and healthy eating, hygiene and favorable environment (hand washing and maintenance of Basic Sanitation Units (UBS), and mental health promotion. The Directorate does not have any updated regional guides for the Healthy Housing Program that are based on local context, cultural and local norms, values, and beliefs.
DIRESA is seeking a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to support their health promotion and educate staff to collect, review and consolidate technical information to co-elaborate a series of regional guides. Additionally, the VSPP will co-train with DIRESA staff the 75 health personnel from networks, micro-networks, and Health Centers at province, districts, and local level.
The Regional Directorate of Health (DIRESA) of Ancash - Directorate of Health Promotion and Education is requesting three VSPPs because the scope of this work is in three specific geographic subregions: 1) the coast, 2) the valley and 3) the mountains, each with specific cultural barriers and local knowledge.
The Regional Directorate of Health (DIRESA) of Ancash - Directorate of Health Promotion and Education has not previously worked with a Peace Corps Volunteer or a Virtual Service Pilot Participant. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
Virtual service engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
• Co-conduct an assessment of the partner organization to determine the level of knowledge of health personnel in the program’s thematic areas
• Co-design a guide based on the local context of food hygiene and healthy eating, hygiene, and favorable environment (hand washing, water storage at home, maintenance of Basic Sanitation Units (UBS)
• Co-design a training plan, slides, and other resources to build the capacity of health personnel
• Co-facilitate learning sessions to health sector personnel on proposed themes identified during the assessment
• Support DIRESA staff in the implementation of the proposed strategies and monitoring of health personnel in training and family sensitization sessions
• Co-evaluate the strategies implemented and co-craft a summary report
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, public health, or related field
Language: Advanced Spanish
Experience:
• Experience in water, sanitation, and hygiene education
• Experience in non-formal adult education methodologies, and experience in online training
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Desired qualifications
Experience:
• Work, academic, or volunteer experience with sanitation and public health
• Experience with gender equity
• Experience in health and/or sanitation and hygiene projects in Peru
• Work, academic, or volunteer experience in Latin America
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement-specific safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
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