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Stakeholders involved in counseling have identified four major objectives to guide the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) in formulating a National Counselling Programme. The objectives were recommended at the conclusion of a three-day workshop convened by the ARD, which took place from January 18 to 20 under the theme "Building a sustainable strategy to serve the counselling needs of the Grenadian population: Lessons from post-disaster counselling." The first objective identified the need to broaden the vision for wellness in the Nation. This would involve strengthening the Ministry of Social Development through the establishment of a psycho-social response unit; development of a management information system and quality standards; provide more staff training; as well as the integration of related services provided by other Ministries, including Health, Education, Youth Development and Community Development. The second objective called for more skilled services at different levels in the community, including upgrading the skills and expertise of professional counsellors; more training in community mental health and the development of a system of accreditation that could utilise the University of the West Indies (UWI) or the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). The third objective called for the need to increase public education about the value of psychosocial health and wellbeing. This would include development of a communication plan to complement and support existing plans; feature psychosocial health as an integral part of the Health and Family Education Programmes in schools; as well as the development of an accreditation system through UWI or the CSME. The fourth objective dealt with ways to improve the service delivery system. This would involve expansion and broadening of the community outreach services; increase the number of persons involved in counseling services and enhance their skills; as well as expand the options and numbers of services provided at the clinical level, including tertiary institutions. Representatives from the Government of Grenada, UWI, the St. George’s University, the Grenada Conference of Churches, the Pan American Health Organisation, UNICEF and the Trinidad Association of Clinical Psychologists, among other non-governmental organisations, shared their experiences in addressing the counseling needs of Grenadians since the passage of Hurricane Ivan on September 7, 2004. Newly appointed ARD Director of Social Recovery Dr. Jennifer Dolly welcomed the recommendations. "These recommendations and the identification of existing strengths and weaknesses within the Ministry of Social Development will certainly help us at the ARD in our Social Recovery initiatives. What we are guided by and what is evident in the recommendations are the wonderful opportunities to create new networks of support for the population in this post Ivan period. The reconstruction process is going to take years to complete. Similarly, the psychological health of the Nation will take time and a variety of counselling services to fully heal," Dr. Dolly said. Dr. Dolly, a Trinidadian, is the former coordinator of the Social Work Programme at the UWI St. Augustine campus and has been a professional counsellor for many years. "We have an opportunity to create a stronger Grenada by providing the services that will support the citizens and enhance personal development and the ability to cope with the unexpected," Dr. Dolly added. The Agency was established in October by the Government of Grenada to coordinate the reconstruction and recovery process, following the passage of Hurricane Ivan. The Agency has been structured with four departments; namely Economic Recovery, Social Recovery, Physical Infrastructure, and Finance and Administration.
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