Deputy Patrick Costello invites you to an online webinar:

“The Need for a National Support Service for Parents with Children in Care”

Date: Tuesday, June 29th 2021

Time: 7pm to 8pm

More needs to be done to support parents who are dealing with child protection services. Having a child taken into care can be a highly traumatic experience, and often leads to feelings of powerlessness, desperation, anger at the system, grief, and confusion over rights, procedures, and next steps.

Other jurisdictions have funded independent advocacy services for such parents and, while there are some such services operating in this field in Ireland, they are local or provide advocates in only limited circumstances.

Supporting Parents with children in care with a national advocacy service is fundamentally about children’s rights and benefits both parent and child. It would help parents navigate the child protection structures, whilst also helping them to process the loss and grief so that the child does not get caught in a crossfire between a suffering parent and the social workers. This ultimately leads to a more stable placement for children.

Join us as we discuss the need for a national service and hear the lived experiences and stories of parents who have been in this situation.

Speakers on the day will include:

• Marissa Ryan, CEO of Empowering People in Care (EPIC). EPIC is a national voluntary organisation working with and for children and young adults who are currently in care or who have experience of being in care. It aims to advance the interests and welfare of children and young adults in the care system by advocating on their behalf, providing information and advice, providing opportunities for participation and influencing through regional and national councils and developing policies on and conducting research into issues affecting children and young adults in the care system.

• Jacinta Swann, Manager of Clarecare Advocacy Service for Parents of Children in Care. The Clarecare Advocacy Service for parents of children in care supports parents to participate in the care process for the wellbeing of their children. It offers one to one support for parents, who have children in the care of Tusla in County Clare, to attend child in care reviews and meetings with social workers and it also runs a support group for parents. The service has supported parents for over 20 years. Most recently , the service has developed a booklet to support parents maintain positive connections with their child in care using technology and has been involved in a Mid-West area initiative to develop information and a DVD for parents which is due to be launched later this year.

*Please note: We would like to keep you updated on progress made on this issue after the event. If you do not wish to be included on this mailout list, please email patrick.costello@oireachtas.ie.

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-need-for-a-national-support-service-for-parents-with-children-in-care-tickets-160939563567