Some 37 social workers from different local government units (LGUs) nationwide completed the training on Social Work Case Management offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the DSWD Academy from February 5 to 8 at the University Hotel in UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City.

DSWD Undersecretary for Standards and Capacity Building Group Denise FB Bernos-Bragas, said that the graduating social workers are the fourth batch of trainees to have completed the course since the DSWD Academy was launched last 2023.

“Through this training at the DSWD Academy, we aim to provide comprehensive and sustainable technical training and capacity building to our stakeholders,” Usec Bragas said in her message on Thursday (February 8).

Usec. Bragas said the participants took nine modules that will enhance their competencies as case managers, handling various cases of children, youth, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities, among others.

“This training will strengthen their foundational knowledge, skills, and attitudes on social work practice and reinforce them with their actual experiences,” the DSWD official said.

Among the topics discussed by the different resource persons were general principles of social case work, theories guiding the social work case management and its approaches and models, competencies, roles and responsibilities of case managers, and menu of interventions for different cases, among others.

“We believe that by strengthening competencies of the participating social workers on case management, it will contribute to improving the level of service delivery of their respective localities,” Usec. Bragas said.

The DSWD undersecretary also pointed out that the agency’s Electronic Learning Management System (E-LMS) was part of the training design in the implementation of both synchronous and asynchronous activities supplemented and reinforced the learning of the participants.

“Aside from face-to-face activities, we also want to venture on a multi-platform way of delivering training to the social workers,” Usec. Bragas said.

The DSWD official highlighted that through the DSWD Academy, the agency is offering free training courses to qualified social workers coming from the fourth to sixth class municipalities nationwide.

Usec. Bragas said that aside from the social work case management, there are a variety of both basic and specialization courses to be offered by the DSWD Academy, including Certificate on Community Development 101, Certificate on Basic Social Welfare Concepts and Principles, Certificate on Disaster Response, Certificate on Barangay Development Planning integrating gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) requirements, and Certificate on Basic Technical Writing.

Specialized courses such as Sectoral Management, Child Rights Promotion and Protection, Trauma Informed Care, Gender Responsive Case Management, Advanced Technical Writing, Social Work Learning and Development Executive Course on Leadership and Management with Focus on Social Work Administration and Supervision will be offered, according to the DSWD official.

“The DSWD Academy will also partner with academic institutions for program courses such as Diploma Degree, Master’s Degree, and Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work,” Usec Bragas explained.

For Joy Renee Rose Umali, a participating social worker from the LGU of Mabitac, Laguna, the training on case management will definitely help them to fulfill their needed continuing professional development as program implementers.

“Malaki ang maitutulong niya sa aming mga social worker, kasi unang-una, handling sa individuals, sa mga case work namin. Nakakadagdag siya at the same time nakaka-refresh ng mga pinag-aralan namin sa college. At the same time, iyong mga actual na pag-handle, management,” Umali said.

(This will be a great help to us, social workers, because, first and foremost, in handling individuals in our case work. This training also adds value and, at the same time, refreshes what we learned in college. Additionally, it contributes to the actual handling and management of cases.)

According to Umali, the training on social work case management also provides a platform to gain knowledge and insights from the other trainees, especially their hands-on and practical experiences in their respective localities.

“Naririnig namin ang mga experiences ng mga kaklase in the seminar. Nakakatuwa siya na marinig ang mga insights nila na meron din pala na parehas kami ng experiences. Kaya iyon nakaka-gain kami ng knowledge at skills,” Umali added.

(We hear about the experiences of our classmates in the seminar. It is delightful to hear their insights and realize that we share similar experiences. That’s how we gain knowledge and skills.)

“Grateful po kami dahil the program provides not only a safe space for learning but also a place where other social workers to connect. It connects linkages, especially ano rin camaraderie and friendship. Very relevant and timely po ang mga topics na kailangan po namin sa profession namin . So, thank you so much po sa DSWD Academy,” Umali stated.

As a priority development initiative of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the DSWD Academy will continue to expand its operations to capacitate LGUs and social welfare agencies in their provision of social protection services, which will in turn, advance the practice of social work and community development in the country. #