As part of the mandate of the Department in providing technical assistance to Local Government Units , People’s  Organizations and Non-Government Organizations in the region,  a training on Mindfulness for Service Providers of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), was conducted recently.

The five day training was participated by Center Heads, Social Workers, Psychologist, and focal persons and Coordinators of the Regional Juvenile Justice Welfare Council.

The said training was conducted to fill in the need to conduct mindfulness to the implementers in order for them to have a better outlook specially to the clientele they serve at the Centers.

The main objectives of the training was also to enable CICLs  who are highly at risk of re-offending to develop and maintain positive and acceptable behavior, help dysfunctional families become responsive to the needs of the children for support and protection, and , to make community members become responsible in preventing juvenile delinquency.

Director Thelsa Biolena, of the Social Technology Bureau of the Central Office, stressed to the participants the importance of possessing multi-faceted skills in handling children specially that they are dealing with different types of attitudes and personalities.  Furthermore, she also reminded them to be kind , patient, persistent, and must have the endurance in handling children and to be at their level  in order not to be left behind.

The said training was also aimed to serve as a way of refreshing and energizing venue for their physical , mental, social, emotional and spiritual faculties of the participants  especially that they are already burned out and are heavily burdened  with the enormous task  placed upon their  shoulders as Social Workers.

Workshops and various stress debriefing activities were conducted within the training on which were actively participated by the Service Providers.

Written by: Mitzie S. Santiago, DSWD