The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD has today launched What Works, a Department of Children and Youth Affairs initiative which aims to maximise the impact of prevention and early intervention to improve the lives of children and young people. What Works will ensure that key groups working with children, young people and their families know what works, how it works, and it will provide an evidence supported approach to apply to this work.
What Works focuses on enhancing key areas as they relate to children and young people’s services:
- data and evidence
- capacity
- quality in prevention and early intervention policy, service and practice
Speaking at the launch, Minister Zappone said:
“What Works is a co-ordinated effort to support a whole system approach to prevention and early intervention in Ireland. We know that investment in this area can have a genuinely positive effect on the whole life of the child, reducing their need to avail of services at later stages in their lives.”
What Works was developed in response to a decade of development in children and young people’s services. Since then, those working for children and young people across statutory and non-statutory sectors have seen increased emphasis and innovation in the area of prevention and early intervention. This means anticipating possible problems, minimising the risk they arise, and targeting resources at those at high risk or showing early signs of a problem.