MHPSS Intervention, Adaptation & Training

HIAS is a global Jewish nonprofit organization working across five continents to ensure that refugees and displaced persons are protected. Throughout the United States, we help refugees reunite with families, resettle and become self-sufficient. Guided by our values and history, we help refugees rebuild their lives in safety and security and advocate to ensure that all displaced people are treated with dignity.

HIAS is seeking a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) consultant to provide guidance on the adaptation, implementation, training, and supervision of MHPSS interventions provided by local psychosocial focal points, including community members, in Honduras. The consultant will assist with the adaptation of MHPSS interventions to ensure they remain fidelity-consistent and are locally relevant. The consultant will coordinate closely with the Director of Resilience Programs, the HIAS MHPSS/GBV Coordinator in Honduras, and FUNADEH PSS/GBV colleagues.

Key deliverables:

1. Development of a training package for adapted emergency MHPSS interventions to be delivered by psychosocial focal points in Honduras, including PSS/GBV staff and community ambassadors (in English and Spanish). The adaptation will include review of tools for self-help strategies and coping messages (utilizing WHO’s Doing What matters in Times of Stress, modifying elements of WHO’s scalable psychological interventions Self Help Plus/SH+ and adapted PFA materials from IFRC and Red Crescent Societies for COVID response). The emphasis is on strengthening the capacity community ambassadors to provide structured psychosocial support, especially in support of children and caregivers.
2. Develop standard operating procedures for implementing the proposed package of interventions, including how clients/community members will be identified and referred to appropriate levels of care.
3. Development of a concise, structured, easy to use facilitator’s guide for locally adapted emergency MHPSS interventions in Honduras, including psychological first aid and caregiver support interventions (in English and Spanish). The caregiver intervention will be adapted from existing materials (if possible) drawing on the experiences of and feedback from community members.
4. Facilitation of MHPSS trainings to HIAS and FUNADEH teams (including community ambassadors).
5. Development of a structured supervision process to ensure fidelity to adapted emergency MHPSS interventions.

All resources should be structured, practical and adapted for communities in Honduras and in line with global MHPSS guidelines for emergencies.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Master’s degree or higher in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, developmental psychology, or clinical social work
• Minimum 4 years of relevant MHPSS experience in humanitarian settings, preferably working with refugees and/or forcibly displaced populations;
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing MHPSS interventions, including training and supervising MHPSS front-line staff in conflict or crisis contexts
• Exceptional understanding of core MHPSS interventions utilized in emergency settings (e.g., WHO scalable mental health interventions, Psychological First Aid)
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and presentation skills;
• Proficiency in Spanish and English (both written and oral).

Please submit your resume, cover letter and employment application to our website http://www.hias.org/career-and-internship-opportunities

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation, or other legally protected status.