The CRC has launched their new Attachment Theory “Train the Trainer” workshop, with the aim of helping child welfare organizations understand the impact of trauma on children, and learn how to help parents and caregivers in their programs develop healthy relationships with the vulnerable children in their care.   
 
The Train the Trainer workshop was created to expand the impact of the AT Workshop that the CRC team uses to train caregivers enrolled in its program.  The CRC hopes to offer this training to social workers in child welfare organizations all over Sierra Leone, so that the families in their care will have access to tools they can use to build stronger, healthier family relationships. 
 
The University of Maine and CRC collaborated to create the Attachment Theory curriculum three years ago for the orphanage staff, with plans to extend the training to caregivers as the CRC transitioned to a family care program.  With this training, the CRC has trained 20 social workers who manage thirteen different organizations from Makeni, Pujehun, Kenema and Bo, who are now empowered to train their own caregivers.  The potential is for Attachment Theory to positively impact children and families all across Sierra Leone.  

The Attachment Theory "Train the Trainer" workshop was the first opportunity for the CRC to host participants in the newly renovated onsite lodgings. Meals were also provided for the guests. 
 
David Musa, the CRC’s Transition Coaching and Mentoring Department Senior Consultant, led the Train the Trainer workshop.  The workshop opened with a devotion by Lucy Jusu and welcoming remarks by CRC Director Olivia Fonnie, who thanked the participants for attending and assured them they would not regret their attendance. 
 
David took the participants through a demonstration of what it means to be a “Participatory Trainer.” The CRC case managers each taught a different topic related to the care of orphaned and vulnerable children. Imourana Bockarie provided a daily recap of the concepts taught in the workshop.

At the end of the training, each participant was awarded a certificate, and provided with a flash drive with all relevant materials, as well as hard copies of the training manual and workbook to take home.

Workshop participant Vanessa said that "every module was of great importance, not only to my organization but also to my personal life. I only ask that the workshop time be extended the next time."  The CRC is considering making future workshops longer to give participants more time to engage with the material.

Participant Dennis said, "I will use what I have learned for the children in our orphanage to build more trust, confidence, and love."

KEY WORKSHOP TOPICS AND FACILITATORS:

• Introduction to Attachment Theory and Secure Attachment – Deborah Kanneh
• Impact of Trauma – Amie Nallo
• Understanding Attunement – Emmanuel Lamin
• Temperament & Child Resiliency – Abiebatu Mattia
• Emotional Regulation – Rosa Saffa
• Caregiver Well Being – Deborah Kanneh​

​Scenes from the workshop:​​

Submitted by David T. Musa, Senior Consultant to the Training, Coaching and Mentoring Department 

The Child Reintegration Centre's new Transition Coaching and Mentoring Department (TCM) successfully hosted the first 2-Day Workshop on Family Reintegration in collaboration with 1MillionHome and Helping Children Worldwide.   Fifty practitioners and government leaders attended to learn how to move orphaned and abandoned children out of institutions and place them back into families, and help those families become stable and self-sufficient.

Sierra Leonean Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs Manty Tarawalli opened the workshop with her commitment to collaborate with the CRC to reintegrate children with families, both from the streets and institutions in Sierra Leone.  UMC-SLAC Dean of Cabinet Rev. Francis B. Charley offered the opening prayer and a statement on behalf of the conference.

Minister Tarawally thanked the CRC for helping other organizations transition to a family-based model of care that will benefit not only the child, but the family.  She said that this is the one of the priorities of the Ministry under the new government. “I feel honored to stand here as the minister and looking forward to continue working with all partners to help create a truly effective children’s protection system,” she concluded.
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Four key presentations were offered on day one by the CRC staff and by HCW representative Mohamed Nabieu. One of the activities that captured the minds of participants was the "Barriers to Transition."  In this activity, everyone was asked to make a list of barriers and challenges they think they will face when transitioning from a residential care model to family/community based care model, and these barriers were posted on the gallery for reference on day two.  After going through this presentation, participants were amazed to see that most of what they have been seeing as barriers can be overcome, once they are determined to make the transition.  The activity concluded on day two when the participants went through the gallery to put a sticker on what they no longer see as a barrier.