Description
217: Way Making for Global Needs: 12 Psychological and Life Factors for Effective Humanitarian Work
Lois Dodds, Ph.D.
Heartstream Resources, Inc.
101 Herman Lee Cir.
Liverpool, PA 17045
Summary
Licensed mental health professionals (LMHP) and mission personnel can best help international humanitarian workers by understanding 12 psychological and life factors crucial in any cross-cultural or multicultural setting, especially with Christian clients who serve in humanitarian organizations and NGOs. Christian clients in both treatment and selection contexts can be screened for these 12 factors which predict the most effective ministry. Many of the 12 relate to creating and sustaining personal relationships, which form the core of any humanitarian work. The absence of one or more of these may lead to problems in effectiveness and longevity, creating mental health issues and life problems for the worker, team, and organization. LMHPs can provide interventions to remediate deficiencies and restore workers.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
• Identify the 12 most relevant psychological and life factors which predict effectiveness in international humanitarian work, explore why these are important and how they affect outcomes
• Outline ways to screen for these factors by licensed mental health professionals in the mental health assessment and selection of candidates for global humanitarian, multicultural, and cross-cultural teams and missions, using tools for assessment
• Develop effective interventions for treating the field worker for mental health needs by licensed mental health professionals
