“Holistic Impacts of AICS Assistance: Addressing Clients’ Needs beyond Financial Relief”

Abstract

This study investigates the holistic impacts of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program in Zamboanga City, examining how social welfare interventions address client needs beyond immediate financial relief. Grounded in Psychosocial Theory, which emphasizes the interaction between individual psychological functioning and the social environment, the study explores how comprehensive support fosters resilience, adaptive coping, and household stability among beneficiaries. A mixed-methods design was employed, with quantitative data collected on financial aid distribution, utilization, and beneficiary satisfaction, and qualitative insights obtained through in-depth interviews with both beneficiaries and social workers. Findings indicate that while monetary assistance provides essential short-term relief, the program’s broader effects—including psychosocial support, referrals to health services, engagement with livelihood and skills programs, and follow-up counseling—significantly enhance overall well-being. Beneficiaries reported reduced stress, improved coping strategies, strengthened family cohesion, and increased participation in community activities, highlighting the multidimensional nature of program impacts. The study underscores the importance of integrating economic, social, and psychosocial interventions in social welfare program design to achieve sustainable outcomes. In practice, social workers play a pivotal role in facilitating access to community resources, providing counseling, and ensuring follow-up support, thereby enhancing resilience at both individual and household levels. These findings propose that the AICS program can be optimized through a holistic, psychosocial approach, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive comprehensive, long-term support that addresses both immediate crises and ongoing adaptive needs.