Call for greater supports for families of prisoners

December 19, 2019: A call has been made for parenting support initiatives in prisons and communities to improve outcomes for children with a parent in prison. The research report launched today identifies the negative impacts on families, particularly children, of imprisonment of a parent – and the potential to address these through parenting and family supports […]


One third of teenagers in Tallaght face mental health difficulties

December 18, 2019: Up to one third of young people in the Tallaght region experience mental health difficulties and face a major gap in accessing services – according to new research on youth mental health. The report, commissioned by the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) and carried out by Trinity College Dublin, researched the needs of 12 […]


Launch of The In-Betweeners

The Childhood Development Initiative is delighted to invite you to the launch of   The In-Betweeners: Identifying and quantifying the unmet mental health needs of children and adolescents in Tallaght by Dr. Elizabeth McCarthy Quinn, and Professor Catherine Comiskey, Trinity College Dublin.   This report discusses consultation with parents and those working with young people […]


Launch of Prisoners Returning Home Report

The Childhood Development Initiative is pleased to invite you to the launch of Prisoners Returning Home: Prisoners and Family Reintegration  By Dr Kieran O’Dwyer, Sharron Kelliher and James Bowes. On Thursday 19th December, from 11 -1, in the Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 This report is the result of consultation with prisoners, their families, […]


Opportunity – Parent Care Facilitator

Interested in supporting Parents and making a difference to the lives of children? The Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) has been supporting parents and building parental capacity for over ten years through the role of Parent Carer Facilitator (PCF) in Early Learning and Care (ELC) services in the Tallaght area.   We are now seeking to appoint […]


Restorative Practices in schools can help prevent homelessness

November 13, 2019: The Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) would like to highlight a solution to a problem identified in research carried out by DCU and the Peter McVerry Trust. The research found that more than 50% of the homeless men it surveyed had in their past experienced suspension or expulsion from school, which resulted in […]


Children’s Dental Workshops brighten up smiles in Tallaght

November 5, 2019: A drive is underway to improve kids dental health in Tallaght, after research has shown that many children have poor dental health. Furthermore, there is currently no HSE Dental Hygienist covering the Tallaght area – so the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) has teamed up with a special children’s dental awareness programme called […]


Tallaght mothers attend breastfeeding information morning

October 14, 2019: Breastfeeding mothers, and mums to be, in Tallaght attended a special ‘meet and greet’ and health information morning, as part of Tallaght Welcomes Breastfeeding. More than 40 breastfeeding mothers attended the event at the Civic Theatre, as well as expectant mothers and grandmothers. The event was part of the Tallaght Welcomes Breastfeeding […]


CDI awards first-ever Restorative Practice ‘Champions’ Certs

October 7th, 2019: The Tallaght based Childhood Development Initiative has awarded the first-ever Restorative Practices ‘Champion’ certs to 20 community leaders. Many of the recipients were Tallaght based and the awards took place at the CDI Office with veteran Restorative Practices (RP) ambassador Fr. Peter McVerry and CDI Chair Dr. Suzanne Guerin of UCD. In […]


Childhood Development Initiative attends national showcase to share learning and plan for the future

October 3, 2019: The country’s 12 Area Based Childhood (ABC) prevention and early intervention programmes, including the Childhood Development Initiative, attended a national showcase on what has been achieved to date and to plan for the future. The Tallaght based Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) presented an information stand on its work led by CEO, Marian […]