Meitheal and child and family support networks: Interim report on the meitheal process and outcomes study

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.