Prefectural Advisors (PAs)

The Prefectural Advisor (PA) system in Fukushima
The Prefectural Advisor System was originally created in 1991 to help better support the participants of the JET Programme.

Two PAs work together to try to help resolve problems to ensure smooth running of the Fukushima JET Programme. Your PA Team has training, experience, and knowledge of Japanese culture, language, workplaces and education that you can draw on to make your decisions and address problems.

Please feel free to contact us anytime, regardless of our proximity to you in the prefecture.

What do PAs do?
Fukushima's Prefectural Advisors provide a variety of services for JETs, the most important of which are listed below.

Counseling
Living and working as a foreigner in Fukushima can become stressful at times. Problems can be furthered by culture shock, language difficulties and winter. Your PAs can offer basic counseling services to help you overcome these difficulties if and when they arise. You can talk to us about culture shock, burnout, depression, stressful situations, major decisions such as re-contracting, or whatever is on your mind!

'''Confidentiality is strictly upheld in all counseling situations. The only exception to this is if a JET poses an imminent threat to themselves or others.'''

Consultation/Information
You can also consult your PAs when addressing problems that are work-related or arise from cultural differences, educational differences, or any other practical problems that you encounter. Things that you can talk to us about include contracts, holidays, team-teaching, work relations, cultural relations, communication problems, etc.

Mediation
If you face a dispute with another party, for example a fellow JET or a supervisor, your PAs can offer mediation services to ensure effective communication and dialog to help address the problem. We can also offer a listening ear and advice on approaching the problem. If all parties agree, we can also offer our services in person to the parties involved. This would involve identifying common and individual needs, and the ways to achieve as many of them as possible. During mediation, PAs represent all parties involved and therefore cannot assure confidentiality.

Crisis Response and Management
Although it is best to contact us during normal working hours or schedule an appointment, if a crisis situation or emergency occurs, you can contact us immidiately and at any time. Such situations could include medical emergencies, crime incidents, bereavement, natural disaster, physical or mental trauma and personal crises, including suicidal or violent thoughts. We will try to help you manage and deal with any such crisis.

'''***It's important to note however that PAs are not professional counselors. In a case where a PA feels the situation requires more expertise, the PA will, with your consent, help arrange for a referral to an appropriate professional.***'''

JET Prefectural Advisors
The role of a Prefectural Advisor is to provide counseling, consultation, and mediation directly to other JET participants. The Prefectural Advisors are also the organizers of Orientations and Opinion Exchange Meetings. Both JET-PAs have duties outside of their roles as PA.

Japanese Prefectural Advisor
The Japanese PA is also primarily in charge of communicating with your BOEs regarding Conferences and other important announcements from CLAIR, MEXT, collecting and collating paperwork and administrative work. They are also the first port of call for supervisors/schools to contact when there is a problem with a JET. The Japanese PA and the JET-PAs work closely throughout the year.

JET PA - Vivian He
Nice to be read by all of you Fukushima JETs! (I originally wanted to write nice to meet you, but this one may be more realistic, lol) My name is Vivian He and this is my first year (2013) working in Fukushima prefecture as a PA. I am the CIR at Fukushima International Association and I mainly do event planning, translation and school visits in order to foster the international understanding between the local citizens and the foreigners at a grass root level.

I was originally born in China but I immigrated to Canada at the age of 15. Even before I immigrated to Canada, I have been fascinated by the Japanese culture and had started to study Japanese on my own by then. I feel honored to be able to present Canada while getting to know the people in Japan as a CIR. Since I just landed at Fukushima in August 2013, I don’t know much about Fukushima yet. However, I am doing my best to adjust to the new environment so I will be able to help many of you in the future. As a psychology major, I have taken courses on counseling before. I sincerely hope that you will feel relaxed and comfortable when we talk. If there is anything you want to share with me please reach me via the methods below:

Work hours (Tuesdays to Saturdays (8:30 to 16:30)) Phone : 024-524-1315

Work hours E-mail : cir_f@worldvillage.org

After hours E-mail : asanosen@hotmail.com

Facebook : Vivian He

(If you have other concerns or emergencies that you need to find me other than my work hours, please contact privately and I will give you my phone number)

Arigato. =)

JET PA - William Vosburgh
Hi everyone, my name is William Vosburgh (known as William, Bill, Will, take your pick) and I’m from New Zealand. I am one of the new PAs/CIRs here in Fukushima Prefecture, and am based in the International Affairs Division in the Prefectural Government Building in Fukushima City. As a JET participant you will receive full support from the International Affairs Division throughout the whole programme. We’re here to help bridge the gap between you and CLAIR, and provide assistance when communicating with your C/Os, BOE’s and supervisors. As part of this support system PAs are happy to assist with any issues you may have, whether it be questions about the JET Programme, life in Japan, or if you just need someone to talk to.

I have been here roughly a month and am still adjusting to life and work in Japan, but I’ve been having a blast so far. It was great meeting some of you at the Fukushima Orientation, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the rest of you as well.

I started studying Japanese in University, and have since developed an interest in Japanese history, culture, and music. I came to Fukushima Prefecture last year as part of the 2012 Kizuna Project, and had a great time visiting the Aizu Region. I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of the prefecture.

If you have any questions, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, I’ll do my best to help you out!

Work Phone: (024) 521-7919

Work Email: william_vosburgh_01@pref.fukushima.lg.jp

Private Email: William.wwz@gmail.com

Facebook: William Vosburgh

If you contact me in regards to an emergency situation I will provide you with my personal number so you can call me anytime.

