Safety in Office: 21st Century Skills for Political Leaders
To address 21st century issues like the climate crisis, growing polarization and inequality, we need politicians performing at their best - their decisions affect us all. Being a politician is a difficult job. Threats and abuse are on the rise. Support and training are lacking. We will not get the effective and representative politicians we need to run for and stay in office if we don’t address this.​
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The Better Politics Foundation:
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Conducts research on the experience of being a politician in different countries
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Develops and supports programs on Safety in Office in different contexts
Introduction to Safety in Office
Half-day workshop
Safety in Office Programs
​This interactive and supportive workshop is designed for parliamentarians, political party representatives and legislators who are looking to better understand the impact of political office on their mental wellbeing and their ability to serve citizens. Participants will come away with practical skills, tools and approaches, and new connections with peers to help make their challenging roles sustainable.
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What the workshop includes:
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Hear from experts on leadership competencies, mental wellbeing, and online safety;
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All materials, including frameworks and resources for use after the workshop; and
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Connection and learning with peers working through similar challenges.
Safety in Office:
21st-Century
Skills for Political
Leaders
8-hour program
This program is a comprehensive training designed to equip aspiring and current political leaders with essential skills, mindsets and resources that can support their performance and wellbeing.
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What the program includes:
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Live, interactive sessions as well as self-paced learning modules and resources (totaling 8 hours which can be delivered over several days or weeks);
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Master classes with inspirational speakers, including senior current and former elected officials;
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Practical skills for online safety, values-based leadership and engaging constructively with citizens; and
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Connection and learning with peers working through similar challenges.
Safety in Office
Train the trainer
program
This program is a comprehensive training designed to equip political leadership entrepreneurs, political staff, or political party representatives with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to effectively deliver the Safety in Office programs. By undertaking this, participants can ensure impactful and sustainable support and development for political leaders across their organizations.
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What the program includes:
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Everything included in the Safety in Office program;
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Live, interactive sessions as well as self-paced learning modules and resources;
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Comprehensive train-the-trainer learning, resources and material; and
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Guidance on adapting content to local contexts and specific needs.
Report: Mere Mortals: The State of Politicians Mental Wellbeing and Why it Matters
Database: Interventions and Programs Supporting Safety in Office
Spotlight: The Organizations Working to Support Safety in Office
Database: Safety in Office Law Repository
"It’s only when we are able to really break down some of the isolation that I think a lot of elected officials experience, can political leaders begin to function at their peak."
Charishma Kaliyanda,
Member for Liverpool,
Government of New South Wales
Are you interested in learning more?
If you would like research on safety in office done in your country or would like to participate in a program, you can reach out to us at info@betterpolitics.foundation.
Advisory Council
Amishi Jha
Professor of Psychology
University of Miami
James Weinberg
Lecturer in Political Behavior
University of Sheffield
Winnie Odinga
Member of Parliament
East African Legislative Assembly, Government of Kenya
Ashley Weinberg
Senior Lecturer in Psychology
University of Salford
Kelly Dittmar
Associate Professor of Political Science
Rutgers University - Camden
Christina Haswood
State Legislator
Kansas House of Representatives, D-10
Rey Padit
Regional Program Manager
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
Courtnee Melton-Fant
Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Systems Management and Policy
University of Memphis School of Public Health
Victoria Ann Hasson
Parliamentary and Democracy Expert, Founder
The Silent MP
This project is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Global Ideas Fund at CAF America. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of CAF America or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
