Tusla Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS)

  • Child Protection, Welfare and Aftercare Supports and Services
  • Parenting and Family Support
  • East Limerick
  • Limerick City North
  • Limerick City South
  • Limerick City Centre
  • Limerick City (Kings Island)
  • West Limerick
  • 0 - 5 years
  • 5 - 12 years
  • 13 - 18 years
  • 16 - 18 years
  • Parents/Guardians
  • Families

The Prevention Partnership Family Support (PPFS) Programme is a Tusla-led programme which aims to engage with and support families around family support issues at Prevention or Early Intervention levels, in partnership with relevant Tusla-funded community-based services.

Tusla is committed to providing high quality services to children and families at the earliest opportunity across all levels of need. Providing help to children and families early in the stage of a difficulty can prevent situations getting worse. Working in partnership is a very important aspect of this work. Tusla aims to work closely with families, other agencies and professionals so that we can respond quickly to the needs of children. Early identification and provision of help at community level is in children’s best interests.

Family Support
Family Support is delivered through community-based programmes and services. The main focus of these Family Support services is on Early Intervention, aiming to promote and protect the health, well-being and rights of all children, young people and their families. Particular attention is given to those who are vulnerable or at risk. Specialist services provide support for those families affected by domestic violence or child abuse. Family Support services are generally provided to families in their own homes and communities.

Meitheal
Tusla has developed the Meitheal approach to help children and families where they may need the support of more than one service. Meitheal is an old Irish term that describes how people come together to assist with crops or tasks. In this context, Meitheal is a Tusla National Practice Model to ensure that the needs and strengths of children and families are effectively identified, understood and responded to in a timely way. The aim of Meitheal is to ensure that children and families receive support and help in an integrated and coordinated way that is easily accessible to them. Through the Meitheal model, practitioners in different agencies communicate and work together to bring together a range of expertise, knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the child and family within their community. The family’s consent to participate is a key condition for a Meitheal intervention to proceed.

Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs)
Local CFSNs consist of all services that play a role in the lives of children and families in a given geographical area. This includes local statutory children and families service providers and local voluntary and community children and families services.

The Child and Family Support Network Coordinator supports the development of the Child and Family Support Networks and oversees the Meitheal process.

Other strands of Prevention Partnership & Family Support

Participation: Supporting the participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them.
Parenting: Supporting parents in developing their parenting skills. Such supports include parenting programmes, the Tusla Parenting 24/7 website and the work of the Parenting Support Champions in promoting key parenting messages at local level.

Target Group

Parents, children and young people, aged 0 – 17 years

Referral

Contact the local PPFS office

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Last Updated: 17/10/2024

Limerickservices.ie service

Contact Details

St. Joseph's Campus, Mulgrave St., Limerick, V94 159V

061 607100 

Organisation Details

Tusla Child and Family Agency

Tusla Child and Family Agency is the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland.

The Agency operates under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, a progressive piece of legislation with children at its heart and families viewed as the foundation of a strong healthy community where children can flourish. Partnership and co-operation in the delivery of seamless services to children and families are also central to the Act.

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