On October 28-30, the High School and the National Social Service of Ukraine, together with the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, conducted training on a special short-term training program for social workers, developed in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine (UNFPA). The program, “Organization of activities of mobile teams of social and psychological assistance to victims of domestic and/or gender-based violence,” is aimed at improving the quality of social services and ensuring the stable operation of specialized services.

The course was aimed at raising the professional level of specialists who provide support to victims. Social workers and local government officials received practical tools for organizing mobile teams capable of responding to cases of violence and ensuring the safety of victims.

During the three days of training, 22 participants gained knowledge on a wide range of issues, including understanding the scope of gender-based violence, forms and consequences of domestic violence, international standards and national mechanisms for combating violence. Special attention was paid to interagency cooperation at the local level and the organization of effective work of mobile teams.

The course also covered psycho-emotional training for working with victims, the basics of social counseling, and methods of preventing professional burnout to maintain the resilience of professionals. The training provided social workers with important knowledge and skills to prevent violence.

Representatives from Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, and Dnipro regions joined the training, which underscores the importance of regional support and joint efforts to counteract violence at the local level. With the knowledge and skills gained, professionals will be able to respond more effectively to challenges, providing safety and support to victims in their communities, strengthening overall national resilience.