Bringing Social Work to Bear for Child Well-being in Crisis, with Examples from Crisis-affected Countries
Presented By:
International Rescue Committee
Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
Session Summary
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) proposes a panel at the ISPCAN Rise Up Policy Forum that will challenge the current status quo by making the case that social work in crisis is not only possible - it is essential. This session will serve as a platform to identify shared policy goals and mobilize collective advocacy for increased investment in social work in crisis settings. It will emphasize the importance of including children in preparedness, response, and recovery planning, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and encourage audience members to engage in a discussion on how to address the fact that, despite the magnitude of need, social work is often not prioritized in humanitarian planning or funding.
Rise Up Session Date and Time:
October 9, 2025 2:30 pm
Country or Region Focus:
Global
Type of Session:
Panel presentation and interactive problem-solving workshop
Public Health Pillar Focus:
Effective Governance and Multi-Sectoral Coordination, A National Action, Capacity Building, and Scaled Solutions, A Continuum of Child Protection Prevention and Response Services, A Holistic Approach that Includes All of The Pillars
Speakers
Moderator: Helena Minchew, Global Lead, Protection Policy and Advocacy, IRC
The Social Work in Crisis Panel will be made up of:
- Hugh Salmon, Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
- Government Representative from a crisis-affected country, to discuss policy reforms and investments that have enabled the inclusion of children in national protection systems, even during emergencies. (Governments that IRC has worked with on this topic include DRC and Burundi; it is unclear at this time which crisis-affected countries will be able to have representatives at the Policy Forum)
- Academic/Researcher, to present findings on the importance of the child–case worker relationship and discuss the need for more evidence on effective interventions in humanitarian settings. (Dr. Camilla Fabbri, of the IRC, will represent this profile on the panel)
- Donor Government Representative, to explore the barriers to funding social work infrastructure in crises and discuss opportunities for increased investment and cross-country learning. (IRC is pursuing representation from the Swedish Government for this panelist profile.)
Please note at the time of submission, panel participant names are still being confirmed based on travel and funding availability. IRC is committed to ensuring diversity of speakers in terms of professional profiles and lived experiences for this panel.
Session Aims
By sharing context-specific strategies that highlight successful models from affected countries and emerging findings on effective social work practices in crisis contexts, while bringing together a diverse range of actors, the Social Work in Crisis Panel aims to:
- Raise awareness, illuminating the critical role of social work in humanitarian settings and the unique needs of children in crisis.
- Foster practical partnerships, building alliances among governments, NGOs, donors, and researchers to strengthen the social service workforce in emergencies.
- Promote policy change, by identifying policy change needs and laying the groundwork for advocating for the integration of social work into humanitarian planning, funding, and coordination mechanisms.
