Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1237. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the way the irregular location of certain child and family support networks such as play therapy may pose a barrier to the implementation of a successful intervention in the lives of a family requiring that service locally. [19576/21]
View answerTusla has established 118 Child & Family Support Networks across Ireland, which help to support integrated and co-ordinated supports for children, young people and families at local community level. CFSNs are a frontline operational structure set up by Tusla to support integrated service delivery. Child and Family Support Networks are developed in response to local need and dependent on resources. The location of the Networks depends on local circumstance. Members of CFSNs come from a variety of agencies or local voluntary and community services such as the Community and Voluntary Sector, HSE Primary Care Social Work, Early Years Services, Sports Clubs, Speech & Language Therapy, An Garda Síochána Youth Probation Services, Primary and Secondary Schools etc.
In practical terms, if a family presents to one service within the Child & Family Support Network and that service is not equipped to meet their needs, that network member can effectively re-direct the family to the most appropriate network member(s) or service. To be able to do this, CFSNs develop a good understanding and become familiar with one another’s work. The Child & Family Support Networks also facilitate the coordination of the use of Meitheal, the Tusla-led early intervention national practice model that identifies a child’s and their families’ needs and strengths, and brings together a team around the child to deliver preventative support.
Providers of Play Therapy, and other service providers may join the Network that is most geographically suited to them. Play therapy is one of a range of interventions that a CFSN could inform a family about, depending on available resources in the local area.
