Exploring Three Resources in the PSS-SEL Toolbox

The Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) launched the Psychosocial Support and Social and Emotional Learning (PSS-SEL) Toolbox to better equip the education sector and those working on PSS-SEL initiatives in crisis- and conflict-affected settings to meet the needs of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. INEE’s PSS-SEL Collaborative partnered with Harvard’s EASEL Lab to develop the toolbox, created collaboratively with diverse stakeholders across more than 30 countries and field-tested in 13 countries.

The toolbox provides free accessible resources in a variety of mediums, including interactive graphics, videos, decision trees, and workbooks. The tools fall into three categories: data tools, localizing tools, and resources. Leading Through Learning Global Platform staff explored one of each tool type to highlight how Education in Crisis and Conflict Network (ECCN) members might use the website.

1. Data tool: Discover Connections Between Two Frameworks

This interactive data-based tool can help you determine how closely related terms are across different frameworks. The tool allows you to select from over 60 frameworks related to PSS-SEL to compare their terminology, visually showing how similarly two frameworks may describe different terms. You can filter the frameworks by country of use, setting, age range, and other characteristics, and click on a term to learn how that framework defines it.

The comparison pictured above shows, for example, that three terms used by the Difficult Dialogue in the Classroom framework (right)—“Respecting the Self,” “Active Listening Skills,” and “Resilient Listening”—are closely tied to the term “Resilience” in another framework, Children’s Mental Health Wellbeing: Identifying Learners with Difficulties. Seeing these comparisons can help you identify trends and best practices across the field or adapt a framework to your own context.

2. Localizing tool: Identify Local Needs and Assets

We looked at one of the toolbox’s five localizing tools, Identifying Local Needs and Assets, which guides you through a four-step process for engaging local community members to determine the most important PSS-SEL needs and assets in your setting. Identifying local needs and assets is crucial to building effective programming for the communities you want to reach. The guide includes planning exercises, example plans for activities like skills mapping, and question sets for leading focus groups or other conversations with stakeholders in your community. It also gives tips on how to take advantage of other resources in the PSS-SEL Toolbox. 

The toolbox offers four other downloadable localizing tools, plus a workbook to help you use them effectively. The localizing tools can be used together in sequence or individually, and they will soon be available in Arabic, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

3. Resource: Teacher Wellbeing

The toolbox’s additional resources include case studies, measures and assessments, and other information and guidance to help you navigate the site, understand the data, and learn more about PSS-SEL in education in emergencies. A resource on teacher well-being addresses how the stress, anxiety, and insecurity teachers experience in crisis- and conflict-affected settings may affect how teachers view themselves and perform in their jobs. 

The page offers a video presentation, landscape review, mapping and gap analysis, and resource collection on teacher well-being. ECCN members can draw on this resource when planning and implementing teacher training and support initiatives in crisis- and conflict-affected settings.

Have you explored the PSS-SEL Toolbox yet?

Watch the INEE’s PSS-SEL Toolbox Launch webinar recording, and share what you learned with the ECCN community.

If you are not already a member of the ECCN, join here to receive updates on future events and activities.