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Retraining the Next Generation of School Psychologists

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  • Retraining the Next Generation of School Psychologists

    PRESS RELEASE
    Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) - Yerevan Office
    53-55 Pavstos Buzand Street, 0010
    Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
    Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
    Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
    Fax: (+374 10) 522076
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: www.coafkids.org

    Children of Armenia Fund - New York Office
    162 Fifth Avenue, Suite 900,
    New York, NY 10010, USA
    Contact: Samantha Wagar
    Tel: 212 - 994 - 8234
    Fax: 212 - 994 - 8299
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: www.coafkids.org

    Retraining the Next Generation of School Psychologists
    Children of Armenia Fund Promotes
    Child and Family Support Services in Armavir District of Armenia


    January 20, 2010, Dalarik, Armavir District, Armenia * The Children of
    Armenia Fund (COAF) announced today the completion of the most recent
    addition to its program in Child and Family Support Services-a pilot
    project designed to train future school psychologists in the villages
    constituting COAF's Model Cluster.

    The eight participants from the village communities of Baghramian,
    Dalarik, Karakert, Lernagog and Miasnikian received six months of
    intensive training at COAF's Child and Family Support Center in the
    village community of Dalarik. Beyond the introductory lectures on the
    principles and ethical foundations of school psychology, classes were
    primarily conducted through interactive methods of learning and case
    studies.

    As Mr. Koryun Makaryan, Lernagog School Principal observed, "I attach
    great importance to psychological services and look forward to the
    trained psychologist's work in our school, and to the early detection
    and prevention of problems."

    A major component of the training program centered on the theories and
    research conducted in the area of developmental psychology. Various
    approaches and the unique aspects of the psychologist's work in primary,
    middle and high schools were introduced, accompanied by educational
    videos and documentaries.

    Working with various community groups-teachers, parents, community youth
    and volunteers-in education, health care and Child and Family Support
    Services has always been a priority for COAF. Accordingly, the final
    part of the course highlighted the importance of communication in the
    teacher-student relationship and related issues: stress management in
    children, foundations of good parenting and family counseling.

    Susanna Asatryan, a trainee representing the village community of
    Lernagog, was excited about being trained by one of the most skillful
    experts in psychology in the country: "We knew so little when we came
    here, but it's different now. Thanks to COAF, we feel confident and
    strong. A new world has opened up for us. We now have many opportunities
    to be useful to our schoolchildren and our village population."

    Certificates of course completion were awarded by Dr. Naira
    Gharakhanyan, COAF Health and Social Programs Manager and Ms. Tamara
    Harutyunyan, Expert Psychologist and COAF Trainer. When addressing the
    trainees, Dr. Gharakhanyan noted that "COAF is always ready to initiate
    and support any innovative idea that may be useful in rural communities.
    We are just at the beginning of a new direction and this is a good
    start." Ms. Harutyunyan, in turn, thanked the trainees for participating
    in the course and for showing such interest and commitment for the
    project.

    On receiving her certificate, Hripsime Karapetyan, a local psychologist
    from the village community of Karakert who has been operating in the
    villages since 2007, added: "Certificates are important. But after all,
    they're just pieces of paper. The knowledge I acquired here is the most
    precious thing I will take with me, and it will be with me forever. I
    would like to use this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to COAF
    for playing a significant role in shaping my personality, both as an
    individual and as a professional who plans to work with children."

    # # # # #

    About COAF

    The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is a non-profit organization,
    founded in 2003, that aims to reduce poverty through the revitalization
    of rural Armenia and the realization of projects that are instrumental
    for the development of rural children and youth. With the introduction
    of its novel approach to clustering in February 2006, COAF is currently
    implementing the "Model Cluster" Comprehensive Rural Development Program
    working in six villages in Baghramian Region of Armavir District. The
    key components of COAF's Model Cluster comprise community development
    including Health, Social and Education Programs, as well as
    Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Economic Development. For the past six
    years, about 22,000 rural residents and over 4,600 children from Argina,
    Dalarik, Lernagog, Karakert, Miasnikian and Shenik have benefited from
    COAF's continuous development efforts and improved schools,
    kindergartens, health clinics, sport complexes, community and
    psycho-social centers, capacity building trainings and workshops and
    multi-faceted business development opportunities.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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