Tusla – Child and Family Agency is delighted to announce the launch of a brand new online directory for Child, Youth & Family Services in the Dublin area – the first of its kind. The Dublin CYPSC (Children and Young People’s Services Committees) Directory marks a unique milestone for access to Child and Family support information in the Dublin area, providing a new level of access to local service information for both members of the public and practitioners. Already, there are over 5,000 child, youth, and family services listed on the website – www.DublinCYPSCDirectory.ie. The website has a live service location map functionality and advanced search tools, such as the ability to search by age group or service category, to ensure that the directory is as accessible and user-friendly as possible for the end users. The Directory was officially launched with a digital ribbon-cutting earlier today at an event in Pearse St. Library by Professor Anne O’Gara, Deputy Chairperson, Tusla.
CYPSC bring together the main statutory, community and voluntary providers of services to children and young people. They are responsible for improving the lives of children, young people and families at local and community level, and provide a forum for joint planning and co-ordination of activity to ensure that children, young people and their families receive improved and accessible services. Accessing information about services, knowing where they are, and how to get to get to them, is a fundamental need when support is sought for children and young people. Likewise, it is important that service providers are supported in their work by sign-posting their services to practitioners, and other local services and resources.
Éimear Fisher, Assistant Secretary, DCYA, said: “I would like to congratulate the five Dublin CYPSC for their collaboration on this comprehensive web directory and I am delighted that funding allocated by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been utilised for the project. This directory is a very welcome tool for all, not only the children, young people and families looking for a service, but also for examples of best practice among organisations.
“It will aid the planning and co-ordination of services which is what CYPSC is all about, and will help services collaborate more at a local level, further enhancing inter-agency working. I am impressed with the diversity and creativity of all the work being undertaken by all CYPSC around the country and especially appreciate the huge effort made by all involved with this particular project.”
The call is now out to all non-profit service providers across the county to register their services on the directory to provide service users with a comprehensive service information resource. The only requirements are that services are state-supported or not-for-profit, and that they are non-political and non-commercial.
Professor Anne O’Gara, Deputy Chairperson, Tusla, said: “The development of the Dublin CYPSC Directory website is a testament to the mission of Tusla and its Partner Organisations: working together to provide good quality, supportive services to achieve better outcomes for children, young people, families and communities. I would like to congratulate the CYPSC Coordinators on this fantastic initiative, and to thank them for the hard work they have put into the development of the Dublin CYPSC Directory. This collaborative effort to create a service directory for the whole of Dublin encapsulates the kind of joined-up thinking that we consistently aim to achieve.”
The Directory covers a range of key service categories:
- Education, Training & Employment
- Health & Wellbeing
- Parent & Family
- Recreation & Community
- Safety & Security
- Special Interest Supports
- Crisis Support Information
While the directory makes local service information easily accessible, it does not replace the service’s own websites or social media pages. Instead, it serves to bring services together, which is a core tenet of CYPSC.
A significant effort has been put into the development of this project by the 5 Dublin CYPSC, and today marks an opportunity to bring it to the next stage. This will be accomplished by informing the public and service providers about the Directory, with the aim of maximising its potential as a resource for the betterment of children, young people and families, and the agencies who support them.
Des Delaney, Dublin South CYPSC; John Cole, Assistant Principal Officer, DCYA; Lorna Kerin, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown CYPSC Coordinator; Una Caffrey, Fingal CYPSC Coordinator; Éimear Fisher, Assistant Secretary General, DCYA; Joe Rynn, South Dublin CYPSC Coordinator; Professor Anne O’Gara, Deputy Chair of Tusla Board; Nuala Nic Giobuin, Dublin City South CYPSC; Colma Nic Lughada, National CYPSC Coordinator; Cliodhna Mahony, Dublin City North CYPSC Coordinator; Eifion Williams; National Service Director Commissioning, Tusla Child and Family Agency.
