Europe-wide Network supporting Ukrainian Children announces first 34 Focal points (11 February 2025)

# Europe-wide Network supporting Ukrainian Children through Psychological First Aid (PFA) announces first 34 Focal points A Europe-wide initiative to support Ukrainian children through psychological first aid (PFA) marked several key developments during its February 11, 2025, Leaders and Partners meeting. The Certificate peer learning programme on Psychological First Aid (PFA) in support of children affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine provides innovative opportunities to strengthen immediate mental health support to children in crisis, is rapidly scaling up into a comprehensive network spanning 27 countries. ## First wave of PFA Focal Points The initiative announced its first 34 PFA focal points - volunteer representatives who will coordinate support within their organizations and regions. While most focal points are based in Ukraine working directly in fragile contexts, the network includes practitioners from Poland, Romania, and Iceland, creating a bridge between local needs and international support. ## Building local capacity “We work with children in Kyiv region, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Chernihiv region, and Sumy region. We travel to locations and conduct psychosocial sessions with children,” explained I. from Yellow-Blue Wings, describing their direct work with affected communities. “When I went through this training that lasted several weeks, it was both learning and active participation... you felt like you leveled up a bit,” shared A. from Platform of Unity, a Ukrainian humanitarian organization working in the Kharkiv region. ## Practical peer learning approach The program combines several key elements: - Certificate-based peer learning exercises providing structured training - Bi-weekly “PFA Connect” sessions for rapid knowledge exchange - New courses based on practitioners’ real-world experiences - An Impact Accelerator to support practical implementation ## Measuring impact on children A new measurement tool is being developed by this network to evaluate effectiveness of support to children at the local level. The tool examines children’s functioning, well-being, distress levels, coping ability, social behavior, and connectedness. ## Cross-border collaboration “This is just a wonderful way of connecting with others across the world who are dealing with the same challenges and issues and concerns and learning from each other,” noted W. from a National Red Cross. ## Looking ahead The program aims to reach 4,100 professionals by June 2025. The next “PFA Connect” peer learning session on February 12 will address three critical topics: recognizing severe reactions in children, managing multiple children in crisis, and providing remote psychological support. The initiative, funded through the EU4Health program, represents a shift from traditional training approaches by emphasizing peer learning and practical implementation while maintaining professional standards through certification. These regular Leaders and Partners meetings ensure the program continues to evolve based on practitioners’ needs and experiences in supporting children affected by the ongoing crisis.