28th february 2012 croke park, dublin. presentation by fergus finlay, ceo
TRANSCRIPT
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