Inclusion for Families Project 2019 - 2020.
This is a capacity building project which aims to support families experiencing disability by training family support workers (FSWs) as disability inclusion advocates.
Training in disability equality, advocacy and inclusion will be given to FSWs working within Family Resource Centres across Ireland. Once trained these FSWs will have the capacity to support families in their communities to know their rights and access health and education services locally.
A key feature of the project will be educating FSWs on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its application to supporting disabled children, a named target group within the Convention.
Family support Workers will engage and build the capacity of approximately 300 parents to self-advocate on behalf on their children.
Participation in training will support family support workers in adding to their work practice and will include skills development in areas, such as inclusive consultation, that can be transferred to work with other groups of children.
The project will entail the following key elements:
- Consultation with Family Support Workers on their existing capacity to support families of children with additional needs.
- Design and delivery of a training programme, Empowering Parents, to develop capacity in effectively advocating and supporting families experiencing disability.
- Establishment of a facilitated space/network for parents and Family Support Workers to explore, identify and respond to the challenges in accessing inclusive local services and supports.
Project Partner
The FRC National Forum is the representative body of over 100 Family Resource Centres (FRCs) throughout Ireland. The FRC programme is Ireland’s largest national Family and Community-based support programme, core funded by Tusla. The FRC Forum represents FRCs in nine regions in Ireland. These centres provide information, advice and support to target groups and families including children with additional needs and their families.
The Inclusion for Families project is supported by the Community Foundation of Ireland’s Early Childhood Ireland National Pyjama Day Fund.
