Providing Accessible Service: Ateneo Bulatao Center’s Brief Psychological Services & the Masayang Pamilya (MaPa) Program

To meet the goal of providing much needed accessible psychological support to Filipinos in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ateneo Bulatao Center for Psychology Services offers Brief Psychological Services (BPS), a free online counseling program that, to date, has served 1,715 individuals from different regions in the country. Consistent with the Ateneo de Manila University's commitment to promote Filipinos' health and well-being, the BPS program of the Ateneo Bulatao Center received the 2021 Gawad Edukampyon Award, conferred by the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to recognize outstanding initiatives of Higher Education Institutions in extending public service and community engagement in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The University likewise recognizes the role of the family and caregivers in nurturing Filipino children’s overall health and well-being. The Ateneo de Manila University is the lead partner, along with the national Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Child Protection Network, UNICEF, and international collaborators in developing, implementing, and scaling the Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) - Masayang Pamilya Para sa Batang Pilipino (MaPa) program. The MaPa program is an evidence-based parenting support intervention to strengthen families, reduce caregiver and child stress, and prevent violence against children. In the period of the pandemic, the MaPa program was integrated into the electronic Family Development Sessions (eFDS) of the national cash transfer program (i.e. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), thereby delivering family support messages and skills to 4 million beneficiary families.

These efforts reflect the University’s ongoing commitment to putting the mental health and well-being of individuals at the heart of its endeavors by providing accessible services to all.

Related links:

• https://www.facebook.com/BulataoCenter/posts/4660579630676095

• https://www.facebook.com/DSWDPantawidPamilya/posts/4543593812358523

• https://www.facebook.com/DSWDPantawidPamilya/posts/4623254637725773

• https://www.facebook.com/DSWDPantawidPamilya/posts/4722771087774127

• https://www.facebook.com/Masayang-Pamilya-PLH-Philippines-104310874689117/