CAAB Awards for Services to Children and Young People 2009

The Children Acts Advisory Board established the ‘Awards for Services to Children and Young People’ in 2007, in order to recognise the invaluable work and contribution made by service providers to children and young people nationally under the relevant Irish Children Acts. It is hoped that these awards will bring together agencies working in partnership with children and young people, acknowledging their individual and collaborative efforts and further support effective practice in service delivery.

The 2009 Awards was held on the 19th of February 2009 in Croke Park Stadium, Dublin 3. All 12 commended entries made a presentation on their services and practices. The ceremony was attended by over 250 people and the ceremony was closed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Mr. Barry Andrews TD. 

The categories under which entries were made are as follows:
    Effective Practice in the Inter-agency Working; Practices that have improved services to children and young people through collaborative working across agencies/sectors/nationalities
    Effective Practice in Community; Practices that are community-based, people-centered, equitable and accountable
    Effective Practice in Education; Practices that are education-focused, people centered, equitable and accountable
    Effective Practice in Juvenile Justice; Practices that are offender-based or take preventative measures with children/young people at risk of offending. They should be people-centered, equitable and accountable.
    Effective Practice in Residential Care; Practices within residential care that are proven to enhance the lives of young people, capitalising on their resilience. They should be equitable and accountable.

Applicants self-selected the category or categories they wished to enter, completed a written application form and submitted this along with supporting material to the CAAB. All applications were evaluated by Panels of Judges (independent of CAAB). These short-listed entries then presented their services to the judging panels and were assessed. The scores from this second assessment stage were combined with those gained at stage one. This provided the information to identify the winners under each of the five categories.
The final stage saw the six category winners put forward for the overall award, this stage was judged by a third set of judges independent of the process so far, and the final selection of the overall winner of the ‘2009 Awards for Services to Children and Young People’ took place during the Awards Ceremony.


Overall Winner of the 2009 Awards for Services to Children and Young People’

Category: Effective Practice in Community
Service/Practice Title: Kilkenny Community Early Years Project
Organisation: Carlow and Kilkenny Local Health Office

From Left to Right: Marie Kennedy, Childcare Manager Carlow Kilkenny H.S.E., Barry Andrews, TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Ann McDonagh, Project Manager, Eileen Curtis, Chairperson of Project

The Kilkenny Community Early Years Project is a cross community child care project targeted at families facing disadvantage, isolation and social exclusion. The Project is guided by childcare and family support principles and endeavours to support families to develop their skills that will help them have a better quality of life for their children and themselves. The service also aims to use a partnership approach in assisting, liaising and mediating with voluntary and statutory bodies who are involved with the families.

The projects aim is that all the children can play and develop at their own pace and in their own way, regardless of individual additional needs, background, gender, religion or ethnicity. An objective of Kilkenny Community Early Years Project is to provide opportunities for each child to learn through positive experiences.



Category Winners

Category Winner: Effective Practice in Inter-agency Working

Service/Practice Title: Alternative Learning Pathways Project & Loughlinstown and Ballybrack GYDP
Organisation: Dún Laoghaire VEC Education and Support Services

From Left to Right: Antoinette Murphy, Coordinator of the Alternative Learning Project, Barry Andrews TD, Minster for Children and Youth Affairs, Colm Philips Coordinator of the Loughlinstown and Ballybrack Diversion Project

Category Winner: Effective Practice in Community
Due to the high calibre of entries in this category it was decided to have joint winners.

Service/Practice Title: Killinarden Drug Primary Prevention group KDPPG
Organisation: Killinarden Drug Primary Prevention group KDPPG, Tallaght, Dublin 24. 

Back Row From Left to Right: Mags Murray, Project Worker,  Barry Andrews TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs,  Alice Murray, Manager, Sinead Mahon, Administrator,
Front Row Left to Right: Collette Tobin, Project Worker, Marie Whelan, Project Worker

Service/Practice Title: Kilkenny Community Early Years Project
Organisation: Carlow and Kilkenny Local Health Office

Category Winner: Effective Practice in Education

Service/Practice Title: After school classes for students from disadvantaged areas
Organisation: Irish Centre for Talented Youth and Dublin City University Access Department. 

From Left to Right: Eleanor Cooke, Academic Coordinator, Centre of Talented Youth, Barry Andrews TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Colm O’Reilly, Director, Centre of Talented Youth

Category Winner: Effective Practice in Juvenile Justice

Service/Practice Title: Finglas Boat Restoration Project ‘Charge Sheet’ Organisation: Finglas Child & Adolescent Centre, Dublin 11.

From Left to Right: Cathal Flynn, Chairperson, Finglas Child and Adolescent,  Barry Andrews TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Colette Walsh, Director, Finglas Child and Adolescent


Category Winner: Effective Practice in Residential Care

Service/Practice Title: Cara Lodge
Organisation: Matt Talbot Adolescent Service, Cork City and West Cork.

 

Back Row from Left to Right: John Beasely CEO MTAS, Dermot O'Connell, Director MTAS, Edel Foley Clinical Manager, Barry Andrews TD, Minster for Children and Youth Affairs, Finbarr O'Leary, Deputy Chief Executive CAAB, Patrick Cooney Family Counselor, Front Row Left to Right: Olive O'Riordan Manager Cara Lodge, Kate Gibney Addiction Counsellor, Geraldine Ring Clinical Director MTAS