Context and background to the CSC initiative Elizabeth Canavan

Principal Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Changing Context for Children’s Services

• National Children’s Strategy – whole-child perspective • Developmental Welfare State (NESC, 2005) • Mid-term review of the National Children’s Strategy – the implementation deficit • Towards 2016 - focus on the needs of children and young adults

Other Developments

• Shifts in Emphasis – For practitioners: From protection and problem orientation to strengths based and resilience building – For policy makers/providers: From integration of policy to integration of service delivery • “Evidence” gaining greater currency supported by OMCYA role • Agenda for Children’s Services (2007) – multi agency and disciplinary role in protecting and promoting child well-being

Policy Response

• Towards 2016 - Structures

– Establishment of the National Children’s Strategy Implementation Group (NCSIG) – The NCSIG will establish a Children’s Services Committee under each of the 34 city and/or county development boards in the country.

• CSCs intended bridge the “implementation gap” – with HSE lead

NCSIG Vision

Children, young people and their families will receive the support and services they need to create better futures for children through all local agencies and organisations working together.

The Approach

• CSCs bring together a diverse group of agencies to engage in joint planning and interagency collaboration in delivery of services to children with the purpose of securing better developmental outcomes for children. • Development locally determined and led within a flexible framework devised and agreed at national level. – Very little prescription – Local champion approach – Model to be informed and designed from the ground up – Focus on Prevention / Early Intervention / Innovative Practice

What Happened Next……

• In 2007 four multi agency Children’s Services Committees were set up: Dublin City, South Dublin, Donegal and Limerick City • Detailed county/city plans were drafted for 4 sites and implementation underway • Six Phase II “volunteer” CSCs on stream – workplans by end 2010 • Toolkit produced in June 2009 • Three Year Strategic Plan for the Development and Implementation of the CSC initiative finalised in January 2010

Where Are We Headed

• Centre for Effective Services collaborating closely with OMCYA – To underpin the evidence base and to develop best practice principles for children’s services – To assess progress and support technical assistance needs emerging • Goal to have 20+ CSCs operational by end 2012 and improved comparative data on a county basis