Development of e-learning course and manualized intervention under the EU program “Trauma-Informed Approaches in Better Care”

E-learning, Trauma, War, Ukraine, Training

Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Online education platform EdEra in Ukraine

November 1^st 2024 to June 30^th 2026

Project Background

The ongoing war in the Ukraine poses significant challenges for the local care system. Various kinds of traumatisation, and in this case war experiences, can have serious and long-lasting consequences for children and adolescents. In order to support professionals working with traumatised children and adolescents and in order to ensure appropriate care, it is essential to provide basic and in-depth knowledge about trauma-related disorders, their effects and preventive support options. This is why the Ukrainian government has launched the Better Care Initiative. Its aim is to:

a) Strengthen mental health care for children and adolescents, including alternative care, through a trauma-sensitive approach.

b) To develop the capacity of professionals and their competencies.

c) Demonstrate using Kharkiv as the primary Better Care model oblast how investments in trauma-informed approaches and mental health care services for children facing adversity, including those in alternative care, are a key component for operationalizing Better Care and the integrated social service package.

In order to achieve these objectives, the project will run through several modules.

Aims and Objectives

This project is seen as a building block focused on the development of e-learning content and a manualized intervention.

The target group of the online course are Ukrainian psychology and social work students as well as professionals working in those specific fields. The main aim of the course is to provide knowledge about trauma disorders and possible support measures, as well as to teach trauma-sensitive attitudes in dealing with children, adolescents and their caregivers. Preventive exercises and self-care measures are designed to not only help children and adolescents, but also caregivers and professionals to cope with the everyday challenges of war, thus promoting practical skills. Another aim of the Better Care Initiative is to ensure that children and adolescents do not grow up in institutions. For this reason, a special emphasis is placed on alternative forms of care.

The Ukrainian company EdEra is responsible for the technical implementation of the course. In addition, the project partners at the Karazin National University will conduct a needs assessment during the project, which will serve as a basis for the development of the e-learning program and help to adapt the learning content to the specific situation.

The second step will be to develop a manualized intervention that is to be used by mental health professionals and social workers in Ukraine to further support traumatized children and adolescents.

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)