Maintaining the quality of family planning services
Trained providers are not fully competent after a two-week training, so post training follow-up (PTFU) and supportive supervision visits (SSV) are important parts of the program that allow the trained providers to practice the skills they learned and receive on-site support from state trainers and reproductive health/family planning coordinators. SHOPS Plus reached hard-to-access facilities and staff that have not received consistent supervision visits in the past due to lack of resources. Some of the program’s trained providers say that they have never been visited before. Conducting these visits has given SHOPS Plus insight into what challenges officials, providers, and trainers face. In addition to PTFU and SSV, the introduced peer coaching and implemented a process where uncertified providers were sent to high volume sites so that they can practice under supervision and meet the competency required for long-acting reversible contraceptive certification. The program has worked with lower cadre staff in particularly poor working conditions on not only their skills, but also on how to conduct community advocacy to improve those conditions.
Learn more about provider quality and family planning.