Family Support
Family Support Work
‘Family Support is a style of work and a wide range of activities that strengthen positive informal social networks through community based programmes and services. The main focus of these services is on early intervention aiming to promote and protect the health, well-being and rights of all children, young people and their families. At the same time particular attention is given to those who are vulnerable or at risk’.
The FRC provides individual programmes of family support designed to meet specific needs of parents, children and families where issues have been highlighted and are having a negative impact on the children. The support may be around one to one parent coaching in the home, advocacy, budgeting advice and linking families to other appropriate services.
Parents Plus Early Years
This is an evidence-based parenting course promoting confidence, learning and positive behaviour in young children aged 1 to 6 years. Drawing on well-researched ideas about child development, and parent-child communication, the Parents Plus Early Years Programme is ideal for parents who want to maximise their children’s learning, language and social development, as well as reduce behaviour problems, while ensuring their children grow up happy and emotionally secure. The programme is suitable both for children within the normal range of development as well as children with special needs, such as ADHD, speech and language and other developmental difficulties.
Parents Plus Adolescent
The Parents Plus Adolescents Programme considers how parents can connect with and build good relationships with their teenage children aged 11-16, while also being firm and influential in their lives. Topics include getting to know and connecting with your teenager, communicating positively and effectively, building your teenager’s self-esteem and confidence, negotiating rules and boundaries, teaching teenagers responsibility, positive discipline for teenagers, managing conflict and solving problems together.
NVR (Non Violent Resistance)
The Non Violent Resistance (NVR) model is a pioneering approach which includes a brief, systemic and evidence-based response to child-to-parent violence and abuse. It aims to empower and support parents / carers in preventing and responding to the violent and controlling behaviour of children and teenagers.
The NVR Programme is suitable for any parent / carer who feels controlled, intimidated or threatened by their child / teenager. It is also for any parent / carer who feels that they have to adapt their own behaviour because of threats or use of abuse or violence from their child or teenager.
Rainbows
‘Rainbows is a free, voluntary service for children and young people experiencing loss following bereavement and parental separation. The rainbows service is an inclusive service to support children experiencing grief and loss resulting from bereavement/parental separation/parental relationship breakdown and divorce. Attending the programme gives children an opportunity to meet with other children of a similar age and loss experience, at a minimum of 3 months after the loss’.
Meitheal
Meitheal is a national support model led by Tusla – Child and Family Agency, which can help you and your child to get the supports you need, easily, locally and when you need it. The kinds of services that might be involved in Meitheal are schools, youth services, family resource centres, medical services and others like these. Meitheal is a case co-ordination process for families with additional needs who require multi-agency intervention but who do not meet the threshold for referral to the Social Work Department under Children First. Practitioners in different agencies can use and lead on Meitheal so that they can communicate and work together more effectively to bring together a range of expertise, knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the child and family within their community.
Examples of the challenges that Meitheal could help with are problems at school, a child feeling down, not getting on with your child, family problems, coping with illness or bereavement and difficult behaviour.
You may already be receiving support from different services but you are finding it difficult to deal with all of them at once. Meitheal can help you to get the support that is best for your child, in a coordinated manner.
East Coast FRC Parent and Toddler Group
East Coast FRC runs a Parent and Toddler Group that provides an opportunity for parents and carers to come together, meet other families living in the area, build friendships and support networks in a relaxed environment. It gives babies and toddlers the chance to interact and socialise with other children while exploring their environment through play, helping to support their social, emotional, and early learning development. Throughout the year, the Parent and Toddler Group organises a variety of events, outings, and age-appropriate activities that encourage family participation, strengthen community connections, and create enjoyable experiences for both children and adults.
Wild wonderful women
A personal development and capacity-building group to empower women with the internal tools, practical skills, and social support systems needed to take control of their lives and reach their full potential and contribute to positive change within the community.
Sassy Seniors group
Sassy Seniors is predominantly a social group for women aged 65 and over. We meet weekly for 2 hours on Thursdays during the school calendar year. Our main aim is to provide a space for carers to meet, chat and build friendships in a supportive environment. We do this by also doing activities and welcoming speakers to the group to build knowledge and access new opportunities to learn.
Parenting Peer Support Group
To reduce isolation and build a supportive community where parents can share experiences, advice, and emotional reassurance without fear of judgment. A regular peer support session offering parenting advice and community connection.
Circle of security
A highly regarded, evidence-based relationship framework designed to help parents and caregivers understand and respond to their children’s emotional needs.
Creative mindfulness
An established, structured course—typically running across 8 weeks—designed to help parents cultivate their own emotional resilience while learning how to introduce mindfulness to their children.
Youth & Special Programmes
Programs such as youth development initiatives and specialized age-targeted support like the Rainbows Bereavement and Separation programme- provides peer group support for children and young people experiencing grief due to bereavement, parental separation, or family breakdown.
‘Confident me’ children’s programme
A 9-week initiative designed to boost confidence and self-esteem in children in 5th and 6th class who have experienced adversity or difficulty.
‘Healthy Food Made Easy’ and ‘Cool
HSE programme – Focuses on healthy eating, the food pyramid, budget and healthy meal planning.
Neuro hub
A neuro-affirming youth group focuses on acceptance, connection, and validating a young person’s identity. Group revolves around parallel play or shared passions which allows friendships to form organically without forced eye contact or small talk.
Food cloud
East Coast FRC partners to rescue surplus food, receiving weekly pallets of supply-chain overproduction directly from FoodCloud’s physical warehouses. The FRC then channels this rescued food straight to families in the community. This would not be possible without the FRCs wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to preparing and often delivering food to families.