Templates, Models, Frameworks and Assessment Tools

Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ) for mental health

The Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ) for mental health is recognised and used globally to assess mental health. Crucial for social and development workers.

Cite as: Patel, V., Simunyu, E., Gwanzura, F., Lewis, G., & Mann, A.H. (1997). The Shona Symptom Questionnaire: the development of an indigenous measure of common mental disorders in Harare. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 95.

Reflection and Critical Thinking Model and Template

Reflection is a natural, cultural or professional process of thinking about occurrences, behaviours, situations and derive lessons to improve knowledge, interpretations and interventions. When reflection involves deep thinking, it becomes critical reflection or critical thinking. In social work, reflective practice is a process where students or practitioners assess how culture, experiences, policies and knowledges influence their learning or work and use results of the assessment for personal growth, to avoid biases and improve interventions.

Access the model here.

Cite as: Mugumbate, R. J., Nyoni, C. and Maushe, F. (2021). African university students’ struggle with the western approach to reflection:  experiences from a multilevel mentoring project at Bindura University, Zimbabwe. Journal of Development Administration (JDA), 6(2), 80-88. 

Longwe’s Empowerment Framework

The applies to development work, social work, community work, welfare work and gender work. It was primaily developed as a pool to promote empowering work for women and to evaluate such work.

Green Belt Movement (GBM) Development Model

How to develop community

South Africa’s Integrated Framework For Developmental Social
Welfare Services

AU environmental model

·       Using the environment to eliminate hunger, malnutrition ·       Using the environment to reduce poverty ·       Using the environment for economic growth ·       Agriculture-led development, for example, increasing productivity and farm incomes ·       Enhance resilience to climate variability through development of disaster preparedness policies and strategies ·       Early warning response systems and social safety nets ·       Funding for environmental work ·       Rural development ·       Improving agriculture research, technology dissemination and adoption ·       Creating institutions focusing on the environment

Model of environmental social work in Africa

Model for environmental social work in Africa

Part of the model	Details
Philosophy	Ubuntu or Hunhu philosophy whose key components are: Importance of families, communities and society The environment is an important resource for food security, health, wellbeing, social justice and economic development. The environment as a heritage that should be protected for passing on to future generations The valuing of indigenous knowledge
Frameworks or models	Continental level frameworks –  African Union model Societal or Country level Community or grassroots frameworks –  Maathai model Family frameworks Global frameworks
Perspectives	Climate change perspective Food security perspective Environmental justice Marginalised and vulnerable populations perspective Social-economic disruption perspective Spiritual perspective Educational or curricula perspective Global emissions perspective   Human rights perspective The sustainability perspective Policy perspective Agriculture perspective Livelihoods perspective

Comprehensive African Mental Health Framework

This framework integrates indigenous understandings and perspectives to come up with interventions in mental health and well-being in African and related contexts.

Domain	Understanding	Perspectives	Interventions
Spiritual	Distress as spiritual misalignment or ancestral calling; a sign that the spiritual “umbilical cord” needs attention.	Spiritual agency: Well-being depends on harmony with ancestors and the divine.	Indigenous healing: Divination, cleansing rituals, and ceremonies to restore spiritual equilibrium.
Communal	Health is a collective state; Ubuntu (“I am because we are”). Isolation is a primary symptom of illness.	Relational personhood: The individual is defined by their connections to family, clan, and community.	Communal support: Grandmother-led benches (Friendship Bench) and peer-led group therapy.
Social	Health as a reflection of one’s actions in society	Social justice: The individual’s just or unjust conduct in society shapes their mental health	Justice: returning and replacing; apologising and reconciling when someone does wrong; it also includes warnings and punishments.
Psychological	Reclaiming identity and internal essence (moya) by grounding in personal and collective history.	Narrative agency: Using metaphors and ceremonies, song and poetry to externalise trauma.	Tree of life: A narrative tool used to “re-author” life stories through a strength-based, collective lens. Ceremonies where people narrate and indulge in connections.
Ecological	Mental health is tied to the land, environment, and one’s place within the “Forest of Life.”	Holistic balance: Health is a state of social, spiritual, and ecological equilibrium.	Pluralistic integration: Collaborative care bridging Indigenous Practitioners with biomedical clinics.
Physical	Mental health tied to the physical body systems	Physical healing	Herbal, dietary and surgical

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