Meitheal and child and family support networks: Interim report on the meitheal process and outcomes study
Date
2017-09Author
Rodriguez, Leonor
Cassidy, Anne
Devaney, Carmel
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Rodriguez, L., Cassidy, A. and Devaney, C. (2017) Meitheal and child and family support networks: Interim report on the meitheal process and outcomes study, Galway: UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway.
Abstract
This research study is being conducted as part of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre’s
evaluation of the Development and Mainstreaming Programme for Prevention, Partnership and
Family Support (PPFS) that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which is responsible for safeguarding
children and young people’s welfare and supporting families, is currently implementing. The purpose
of the PPFS Programme is to integrate early intervention and prevention practices and principles into
the work that Tusla and partners in the statutory and community and voluntary sector carry out with
children, young people and their families. The PPFS Programme has five core domains; parenting
support and participation; children’s participation; commissioning of services; public awareness and the
implementation of Meitheal and the Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNS). Meitheal is an early
intervention model, which is used to support children, young people and their families with unmet needs
who do not meet the threshold for a child protection response. The Meitheal is coordinated by a Lead
Practitioner who supports the family throughout the process1
. The Meitheal model is underpinned by the
Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs), which are multi-agency area-based networks designed to
support the implementation of Meitheal and the development of a partnership approach to working with
children, young people and their families at a local level2.