28th February 2012 Croke Park, Dublin. Presentation by Fergus Finlay, CEO

Our Children – Our Past

Where are the fault lines?

What’s going well?

1,107,034

Our Children – Our Present

• Protection from poverty

• Protection from the impact of poverty

• A pathway to independence

• Protection against child abuse and neglect

• Protection against crime

• Housing and shelter

• A stable living environment

• Able to manage/ respond to bullying, discrimination and antisocial behaviour

• Ready for school

• Good school attendance and participation

• Literate and numerate

• Good school results

• High school standards

• Good physical health

• Good mental health

• Good lifestyles (diet, exercise, substance abuse, etc.)

• Play and leisure opportunities

• Personal development opportunities

• Emotional resilience and empathy

• Good sexual health

• Encouragement to grow and achieve

• A caring home environment

• Influence and voice in our society

• Rights enshrined in the Constitution

• An informed and fair justice and courts system

National Children’s Strategy

Children will have a voiceChildren will be understoodChildren will be supported

National Outcomes for Children in Ireland

Healthy, both physically and mentally

Supported in active learning

Economically Secure

Safe from accidental and intentional harm/Secure in the immediate and wider physical environment

Part of positive networks of family, friends, neighbours and the community /Included and participating in society

GOALS

That means they are / have...

But there are problems …

State Policy TowardsChildren:• “ Seen and not heard “ Until the 70’s

Economic Policy:• Role of the state vs Personal Consumption& the Markets• Irish spending on SocialProtection the lowest in Western Europe

Economic Contraction• Growth Down 15%

• Reduced Government Social Spending• Child Benefit• Social Welfare Payments• HSE Budget• Education Budget• Closure of State Agencies

8.7% of children living in consistent poverty

• No reference model for developing children’s services

• Weak information base, with no common system for assessing needs of children or outcomes

• No resource allocation model for children’s services

• Structural problems – huge variation in services and standards delivered in different regions

• Historically, a closed and centralised political culture was no prepared to allow external participation in developing/implementing policy

• Child abuse and neglect

• Housing/Homelessness

• Children unable to thrive in education

• Poor literacy/numeracy

• Mental health and well being problems

• Physical health problems

• Early school leaving

• Substance abuse

• Peer violence/bullying

• Inability to break out of cycles of disadvantage

• Historically poor child protection and welfare services

• Limited implementation of the first National Children’s Strategy

• Services for children and their families focus on ‘picking up pieces’

• Unemployment up, now over 15%

• Wage cuts in public and private sectors

• Increased budgetary pressures on existing systems and services

• Reduction in funding for NGOs

• Increased pressure on services for children and families

Systemic ProblemsUnderlying Causes Problems Experienced by Children

Minister for Children

Child & Family Welfare focused Agency

Constitutional Change

Director of Children & Family Services

National Children’s Strategy2012 - 2017

New Legislation

Opportunity to deliver world class services for children & families

Program for Government

Barnardos’ Vision

National Framework/ Local Architecture delivering continuum of care through interagency working

Required Throughout the Continuum (e.g. GPs, etc.)Primary Care Services

0 years

2 years

5 years11 years

18 years-9 months

Antenatal Care

Primary School

Public Health Nurse Visits

Pre-school/ Community Crèche/ Playgroup

Secondary school

Youth Clubs

Sports/ Entertainment Clubs/ Scouts/ Girl Guides

Afterschool Activities

Prenatal Care

9 years

15 years

What All Children Need

Family Planning

Required Throughout the Continuum:Parent Support(1:1) – Home Visits and Centre Based, Parenting Group- Work Programme Mental Health and Wellbeing Support (Children & Parents), Community Development Support, Attachment and Relationship Support

Social/ Emotional Support

0 years

2 years

5 years11 years

18 years-9 months

Targeted Pre-School

HSE Early Intervention Team

Mentoring Programme

Ready for Secondary School(Children & Parents)

Support to Access out of SchoolActivities

Support Service for ParentsEducation Welfare

Officer/Home School Liaison Officer

9 years

15 yearsReady for School Service

(Children & Parents)

Literacy & Numeracy Support Service

Practical Support Services

Life Skills/Lifestyle Choices/Peer & Family Relationship Support

When Early Intervention is Needed

Required Throughout the Continuum:Domestic Violence Services, Child Residential Services (In- Care), Fostering Service, Respite Care, Community Welfare Service, Specialist Therapeutic Services (eg, Bereavement, Sexual Abuse), Family Law Centres, Gardai, Child Protection & Welfare, Homeless Services, Family Support Voluntary Agencies

Care/ Fostering

0 years

2 years

5 years11 years

18 years-9 months

Targeted Pre-SchoolWraparound Services

Diversion Programme (Gardai)

National Education Welfare Service

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Service

9 years

15 years

Family Welfare Conference

Some Children Need a Crisis Service

Local Accountability

0 years

2 years

5 years11 years

18 years-9 months Common Assessment Framework

Inter- Agency Cooperation - Protocols

National Policy, Local Delivery

Some Services likely to be Regional/National

Local Management

9 years

15 years

Assessing & Responding to Community Need

The Community Hub: A Better Way of Meeting Need

Once in a Generation Opportunity

28th February 2012 Croke Park, Dublin. Presentation by Fergus Finlay, CEO