Pagasinan State University has partnered with the Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc. to Continuing Professional Deveopment to capacitate the social workers alumni of PSU, focusing on safeguarding children, Juvenile Justice, and Restorative Justice.
The university’s Social Worker Alumni Association appreciates HLAF’s dedication to safeguarding children, juvenile justice, and restorative justice, making them the ideal choice for collaboration. HLAF’s reputation for advocacy was well-established, and their reach extended across the country. This partnership was part of the advocacy of HLAF to safeguard children’s rights, improve procedures in juvenile justice, and implement restorative justice in Children.
The Continuing Professional Development Training sessions for social workers gathered, eager to learn from HLAF’s professionals. The training sessions covered the fundamentals of juvenile justice, restorative justice, and the best practices for handling children in conflict with the law and child at risk.
One of the most impactful sessions was on safeguarding children’s rights. Participants learned about the legal frameworks designed to protect children and the importance of ensuring that these rights were upheld in every interaction. They discussed case studies where children’s rights had been compromised and explored ways to prevent such occurrences in their community.
Another crucial aspect of the training was understanding the key procedures in juvenile justice for social workers. This included detailed protocols for assessing cases, engaging with law enforcement, and providing appropriate interventions.
Social Workers and Criminal Justice: Forging Alliances and Collaborations Among the Pillars of the Justice System was the guiding principle for the participants. They realized that effective juvenile justice required collaboration among social workers, law enforcement, educators, and the community.
Pangasinan State University’s partnership with HLAF set a new benchmark for how educational institutions could engage in social justice. It demonstrated that with the right training, social workers could become powerful advocates for children’s rights and agents of change within the criminal justice system. This partnership showed that when different pillars of the justice system work together, they can create a more just and compassionate society, paving the way for a brighter future for all.
