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Minister Katherine Zappone announces further 2019 Network Funding awards to organisations working to improve outcomes for children under the What Works Initiative

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, has today announced further funding awards under the 2019 Network Support Fund, a What Works Initiative, supported through Dormant Accounts Funding.

The measure aims to support organisations promoting evidence informed approaches to prevention and early intervention services, so that those working with and for children, young people and their families are supported in doing the right things, in the right way and at the right time.

In announcing this allocation of funding Minister Zappone said:

I am delighted to announce funds for organisations working with and for children and young people. This funding will further support them in accessing essential training, workshops, networking and sharing events towards making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people living in Ireland.

These grants awarded to date under the Network Funding Scheme, will enable facilitation of formal and informal knowledge sharing.  This knowledge sharing will explicitly focus on enhancing practice, professional dialogue and curiosity around evidence informed prevention and early intervention.

Note:

Organisations to receive further funding awards under the 2019 Network Support Fund, a What Works Initiative are:

Organisation

Address

Allocation

St Catherine's Community Services Centre

Co Carlow

€20,000

Tusla Child & Family Agency (Primary Care Centre Tullamore)

Co Offaly

€1,508

Longford Women's Link CLG

Co Longford

€10,000

Kildare Youth Services

Co Kildare

€8,000

Total:

€39,508

Total amount approved for 2019 applications to date:

€300, 266

The 2019 What Works Network Support Fund will be open for applications until 5 November 2019. The closing date for applications may be revised, subject to funding availability.

Grant allocations will be awarded on an annual basis, minimum of €1,000 and maximum of €20,000 per year per applicant. All grants must be expended by 31 December of the year funding was awarded. Further details on the application process are available on the What Works website

What Works

What Works (formerly QCBI) is an initiative designed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure those working with children, young people and their families build on the existing body of evidence demonstrating the impact of prevention and early intervention approaches, models and practices on outcomes for children.

What Works ensures that key groups working with children, young people and their families know what works, how it works, and that it will provide an evidence supported approach to apply to this work.

What Works focuses on enhancing key areas as they relate to children and young people’s services.

Four key areas have been identified to achieve this goal. What Works aims to enhance the use and availability of data and evidence; support capacity development; and ensure quality at the levels of policy, service and provision.

The initiative seeks to secure a return on the investment and impact in the area of prevention and early intervention in Ireland over the past decade. It will achieve this by resourcing the key areas so that those working with and for children, young people and their families are supported in doing the right things, in the right way and at the right time.