Press release
Launch of the What Works Festival of Learning - Partners in Prevention
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today launched the annual What Works Festival of Learning on Prevention and Early Intervention.
The What Works Festival of Learning is a series of events starting 21-24 November on collaboration and partnership in prevention and early intervention for children and families. The series of events, both in person and online, spotlights leading global policymakers, practitioners and thinkers in prevention and early intervention, highlighting how it can improve the lives of children and young people.
These sessions will highlight collaboration and examples of best practice and sharing knowledge amongst practitioners and policy makers.
Some key areas which the first event explored today included new ways new ways of working to help practitioners and policy makers collaborate, work efficiently and best support parents and their children. The event also focused on the learning from other countries on collaboration and examined how collaboration can be strengthened to respond to families with complex needs.
The second event on Wednesday 23 November is focusing on policy makers and how prevention and early intervention approaches are strengthened through collaboration between different government departments, services and other organisations, at national and local level. The third event on Thursday 24 November focuses on the role of practitioners and initiatives that are supporting practitioners and their organisations to collaborate and to share knowledge and best practice.
Speaking at the launch Minister O’Gorman said:
"I’m delighted to be launching today’s event and the series of webinars this week. We all know that effective prevention and early intervention has significant benefits for children, young people and their families and is also an effective and efficient use of resources.
"With the help of the What Works Initiative and an increased focus generally on prevention and early intervention, we understand the importance of moving from crisis intervention to prevention and early intervention."
Further information and registration details for the remaining two events can be found at:
This Festival of Learning is taking place as part of What Works, an initiative designed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with Dormant Accounts funding, to maximise the impact of prevention and early intervention to improve outcomes for children and young people living in Ireland. More details of each seminar are available on the What Works website.
Key international speakers and contributors to the sessions include Minister Roderic O’Gorman who launched the series of events today along with Hanna Vseviov – Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Social Affairs, Estonia.
Keynote speakers for the other two events are Dr. Wadih Maalouf from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Kevin Webster, Senior Manager, Prevention, Partnership and Family Support in Tusla the Child and Family Agency.
The three events are being moderated by Áine Kerr, an experienced teacher turned journalist turned entrepreneur who has presented ‘Reignite’ on Radio 1 and ‘The Business’ on RTÉ.
The Festival of Learning is intended to appeal both to those already working in prevention and early intervention and those looking to learn more about the subject. It is presented in a conversational style, exploring new ideas and encouraging vibrant discussion with contributors and the audience. The department is working with the Centre for Effective Services (CES) to manage the events.