Public-Private Partnerships for Mental Health in Post-Conflict Countries
- Health care
- Health education
- HIV/AIDS
- Child soldiers
- Mental health
- Poverty alleviation
- Vulnerable populations
Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.
Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?
Founding Story
Alison
Pavia
Peter C. Alderman Foundation
, NY, Bedford, Westchester County
, GUL
More than 5 years
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Operating for more than 5 years
PCAF is working to create a scaleable, low-cost model for providing mental health care in low-resource settings to those who need it the most. Working with some of the best minds in global mental health to inform its model and delivery of care, PCAF is putting words and research into action, working to return victims of traumatic depression and PTSD to function: to work, to child-rearing and to school. By partnering with government and civil society, building human resource capacity in mental health, and working only with indigenous health care workers, PCAF hopes to leave a legacy of government and community acceptance of the necessity of mental health care that becomes intrinsic to the health care structure of each country it works in.
PCAF has trained over 1,000 health workers to date, who have gone on to treat over 100,000. Our clinics saw 11,000 patients in 2011. Early results on these patients show a marked and sustained reduction of symptoms and a return to productivity.
PCAF's fourth annual pan-African conference on psychotrauma in Nairobi in July, 2011 was attended by nearly 600 participants. The conferences are written up in the African Journal of Traumatic Stress, now in it third edition. PCAF has supported and created a forum for the exchange of ideas, research and information on global mental health.
PCAF has provided care for the mentally ill where none would exist. Cambodia has no healthcare infrastructure. Uganda has a severe shortage of mental health care workers, and no funds to pay salaries. Liberia has neither a healthcare infrastructure nor human resource capacity. Without PCAF, thousands would go without any possibility of treatment, and would likely be unable to return to function.
In Uganda, PCAF is now extending its community outreach program, providing care and psychoeducation in community health centers. This will likely increase patients treated by more than 25%.
In Cambodia, PCAF is partnering with the Applied Mental Health Research Group of the Bloomberg School of Public Health to improve its treatment delivery systems and patient outcomes at its two clinics.
In Liberia, PCAF plans to train and supervise a cadre of psychiatric nurses who will staff the country's planned network of menatl health Wellness Clinics.
In Kenya, PCAF plans to add mental health services to a maternal child health clinic in Kibera, Nairobi.
In the US, PCAF is working with a partner on a plan for a global mental health research network.
Community outreach programs in Uganda will increase patient visits by 25%.
Institute regular outreach visits to community health centers
COnduct all needed follow-up and home visits to patients
Document and evaluate all patient contacts to follow outcomes
Add Kibera, Nairobi Kenya clinic service, and see 500 patients in the first 12months of operations
Complete MOU with Ministry of Health
Finish hiring psychiatric nurses
Train nurses in PCAF model, and Open service
PCAF's most important partners are the ministries of health of the countries it works in. SIgnificant partners include: Makerere University and Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital of Uganda, who provide the local psychiatric expertise necessary forprograms in Uganda, Liberia and Kenya; the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, which provided the basis for the treatment and health worker training model; the Africa Mental Health Foundation, co-sponsor of the last two summer conferences and partner on the Kibera Clinic; the Bloomberg School of Public Health and NYU School School of Medicine.
PCAF has been approached by the governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Sierra Leone to work specifically with refugee populations. Working with refugee trauma is a natural outgrowth of PCAF's current work, and a number of our patients in Northwest Uganda are refugees. PCAF will site visit several locations in Tanzania this summer after its conference on psychotrauma, and will explore the Kenya option once the Kibera clinic is off the ground.
There are three factors that have contributed to PCAF's success: First, PCAF's partnerships with governments ensures low cost, sustainability and scalability. PCAF works in post-conflict countries where few services are available, government is eager to receive NGO assistance, and PCAF requires government to participate in its clinics and carry its share. The countries are equal "owners" of the mental health clinics, and will go on to operate them.
Second, the organization is "lean and mean." PCAF is small and communications are paramount: it works efficiently and with flexibility.
Third, the Aldermans, who are visionary founders driven by a passion to help others in their son's memory. They lead by example, consistently putting the needs of the organization above their own.
Strategic planning; funds development; board development.