CHI - Member services

Providing services to child helplines

The CHI network provides several services to its members, based on the expertise and knowledge that is available at the child helplines. If necessary the services of external consultants are acquired. The different services and products are developed based on the demands and needs that exist in the network. These are gauged through the Practices, Standards and Principles (PSP) checklist and other feedback mechanisms. Annual completion of the PSP Checklist is a membership criteria. The process of developing the different services for members is directed and guided by the PSP Taskforce.

Click here to learn more about the PSP Taskforce.

The services provided to members can be distributed into four categories:
1. Peer exchanges;
2. Theme based training courses;
3. Manuals and guidelines;
4. Regional and international consultations.

Peer exchange
In a peer exchange two (or more) child helplines are linked together according to needs and expertise, to learn from each other. During the peer exchange, an exposure visit is made by representatives from one of the child helplines to another child helpline. The participants are introduced to the operations of the hosting child helpline, receive training or start a long-term cooperative relationship. Peer exchanges have proven to be highly effective for both emerging and consolidated child helplines. In 2007 and 2008 twenty five successful peer exchanges took place. Peer exchanges take place mainly on a regional level. However in 2008 the CHI Secretariat started to facilitate inter-regional peer exchanges based on the needs of the members.

Theme-based training courses
Based on the needs expressed by the members in the network, different training courses and workshops are organised. The goal is to provide child helplines with the necessary knowledge to ensure members develop into as strong as possible child helplines. Expertise that is available in the child helpline network is used as much as possible in the training courses, by having representatives from child helplines facilitate the training course, host a workshop or have them speak at the course. Where necessary, external consultants are attracted to facilitate the process. Training courses are held on a national, sub-regional, regional or international level. In both 2007 and 2008, four training courses were organised on various subjects.

In 2008, an on-going new technologies working group was started to facilitate the adoption and use of mobile, internet and various emerging technologies by child helplines. More and more contacts to child helplines by children are made using these communication methods. According to the data collected for 2008, they totalled almost 4 million, up from 1 million in 2007. CHI recognised the growing need for information and knowledge by starting the working group for selected child helplines from Europe who are working or starting to work with internet and mobile technologies.

Manuals and Guidelines
Similar to the training and workshops, manuals and guidelines are developed based on the expressed needs and demands of the child helplines through the PSP Checklist. The topics of the manuals vary from good governance, fundraising to child protection policies, counselling and online counselling. Since 2007, CHI has produced more than ten manuals and guidelines specific for child helplines. More and more, manuals and trainings will become part of a learning and feedback cycle. Manuals will be produced as a first step in this cycle after which training and workshops will provide a second stage to raise the knowledge and expertise in the network on a particular subject. The PSP Taskforce will be guiding and directing this process.

Regional Consultations
Regional Consultations (RCs) are one of the main events on the CHI calendar. The RCs are the basis of the network's activities where representatives meet and share on a regional level. The objective of the RC is to strengthen the network, gain knowledge and facilitate information exchange through workshops and discussion meetings. The meetings are organised every two years in the five regions and currently, CHI is in a cycle of RCs. The meetings are usually hosted by the child helpline that represents the region in the Supervisory Board. As a result, successful meetings have taken place in Malawi (RC Africa), Italy (RC Europe), Morocco (RC MENA) and Colombia (RC Americas and Caribbean). The final RC in this cycle will take place in India (RC Asia Pacific).

For more information on the RCs visit the news and events pages.

International Consultation
The International Consultation (IC) is the most important event taking place in the CHI network. Once every two years representatives from all child helplines in the network come together. Similar to the RCs, the IC has as its objective to provide information and knowledge through workshops. Additionally, the IC is also the venue for the General Assembly of the network. Consequently, the IC is the official moment where members
1. are informed about the progress of the work of the CHI Secretariat;
2. nominate Regional Representatives for the Board and Taskforces in the Regional Space;
3. approve the Supervisory Board;
4. and adopt strategy of the network for the next period.

The most recent International Consultation was held in Amman, Jordan in November 2008. The next will be organised in Madrid, Spain in October 2010.

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	Providing services to child helplines The CHI network provides several services to its members, based on the expertise and knowledge that is available at the child helplines. If necessary the services of external consultants are acquired. The different services and products are developed based on the demands and needs that exist in the network. These are gauged through the Practices, Standards and Principles (PSP) checklist and other feedback mechanisms. Annual completion of the PSP Checklist is a membership criteria. The process of developing the different services for members is directed and guided by the PSP Taskforce. Click here to learn more about the PSP Taskforce. The services provided to members can be distributed into four categories: 1. Peer exchanges; 2. Theme based training courses; 3. Manuals and guidelines; 4. Regional and international consultations. Peer exchange In a peer exchange two (or more) child helplines are linked together according to needs and expertise, to learn from each other. During the peer exchange, an exposure visit is made by representatives from one of the child helplines to another child helpline. The participants are introduced to the operations of the hosting child helpline, receive training or start a long-term cooperative relationship. Peer exchanges have proven to be highly effective for both emerging and consolidated child helplines. In 2007 and 2008 twenty five successful peer exchanges took place. Peer exchanges take place mainly on a regional level. However in 2008 the CHI Secretariat started to facilitate inter-regional peer exchanges based on the needs of the members. Theme-based training courses Based on the needs expressed by the members in the network, different training courses and workshops are organised. The goal is to provide child helplines with the necessary knowledge to ensure members develop into as strong as possible child helplines. Expertise that is available in the child helpline network is used as much as possible in the training courses, by having representatives from child helplines facilitate the training course, host a workshop or have them speak at the course. Where necessary, external consultants are attracted to facilitate the process. Training courses are held on a national, sub-regional, regional or international level. In both 2007 and 2008, four training courses were organised on various subjects. In 2008, an on-going new technologies working group was started to facilitate the adoption and use of mobile, internet and various emerging technologies by child helplines. More and more contacts to child helplines by children are made using these communication methods. According to the data collected for 2008, they totalled almost 4 million, up from 1 million in 2007. CHI recognised the growing need for information and knowledge by starting the working group for selected child helplines from Europe who are working or starting to work with internet and mobile technologies. Manuals and Guidelines Similar to the training and workshops, manuals and guidelines are developed based on the expressed needs and demands of the child helplines through the PSP Checklist. The topics of the manuals vary from good governance, fundraising to child protection policies, counselling and online counselling. Since 2007, CHI has produced more than ten manuals and guidelines specific for child helplines. More and more, manuals and trainings will become part of a learning and feedback cycle. Manuals will be produced as a first step in this cycle after which training and workshops will provide a second stage to raise the knowledge and expertise in the network on a particular subject. The PSP Taskforce will be guiding and directing this process. Regional Consultations Regional Consultations (RCs) are one of the main events on the CHI calendar. The RCs are the basis of the network's activities where representatives meet and share on a regional level. The objective of the RC is to strengthen the network, gain knowledge and facilitate information exchange through workshops and discussion meetings. The meetings are organised every two years in the five regions and currently, CHI is in a cycle of RCs. The meetings are usually hosted by the child helpline that represents the region in the Supervisory Board. As a result, successful meetings have taken place in Malawi (RC Africa), Italy (RC Europe), Morocco (RC MENA) and Colombia (RC Americas and Caribbean). The final RC in this cycle will take place in India (RC Asia Pacific). For more information on the RCs visit the news and events pages. International Consultation The International Consultation (IC) is the most important event taking place in the CHI network. Once every two years representatives from all child helplines in the network come together. Similar to the RCs, the IC has as its objective to provide information and knowledge through workshops. Additionally, the IC is also the venue for the General Assembly of the network. Consequently, the IC is the official moment where members 1. are informed about the progress of the work of the CHI Secretariat; 2. nominate Regional Representatives for the Board and Taskforces in the Regional Space; 3. approve the Supervisory Board; 4. and adopt strategy of the network for the next period. The most recent International Consultation was held in Amman, Jordan in November 2008. The next will be organised in Madrid, Spain in October 2010. top
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