National Best Practice Guidelines for Informing Families of their Child’s Disability were developed by the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies and launched by Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD in December 2007. These guidelines were based on a significant consultation and research process and were widely endorsed by professional bodies, parent and family organisations and educational institutions.

For the past two years the Informing Families Project has embraced the challenge to translate research into practice through a two year pilot implementation of the guidelines in the Cork Region, across hospital, community and voluntary disability services. The purpose of the pilot project was to gain knowledge to inform national roll-out. Click here to download the report of the Cork Pilot Project. The report of the Cork Pilot Project provides a range of practical tips and tools for implementing the Guideilnes. 

The pilot project has been successfully implemented and has been announced as one of the recipients of the Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Awards 2010.

Diarmuid O'Leary cuts the ribbon to officially open the new family room in Cork University Hospital

Through the pilot project in the Cork region a range of valuable tools and materials have been developed which can be used around the country to support the implementation of best practice when informing and supporting families of children with disabilities.

Mr. John Moloney TD, Minister for Equality, Disability and Mental Health at the Department of Health and Children launched these valuable tools for supporting best practice on Monday 28 June 2010 in University College Cork 

• The Roadmap for Implementation – Informing Families of their Child’s Disability: Report of the Cork Implementation Project 
• An e-Learning module based on evaluated training materials designed to support professionals who work with families of children with disabilities
• A website of information to support parents and professionals developed through the pilot project: www.informingfamilies.ie

Minister John Moloney launches the report of the Informing Families Cork Implementation Project  in UCC
 

Further information

Download the national best practice guidelines here: http://www.fedvol.ie/_fileupload/File/Informing_Families_Guidelines.pdf

Click here to download the Roadmap for Implementation from the Cork Pilot Project.

Click here to find out more about the tools available from the Cork Pilot Project.  

The work of the Informing Families Project has been kindly supported by the Health Services National Partnership Forum and the HSE Department of Social Inclusion.