New booklets Shine a light on healthy and unhealthy relationships
Booklets to help children and young people flag unhealthy relationships or domestic issues were launched at Johnston Central Library this afternoon.
A trio of child-friendly booklets, under the title 'Shine' were written by experts and aimed at prompting conversations about nurturing and damaging relationships.
Michelle Treanor brought her insights and experience as an ISPCC Childline Therapeutic Support Worker to bear throughout the development of the ‘Shine’ booklets.
Michelle was amongst the group from Monaghan and Cavan CYPSC who dropped off copies of Shine at the library on Cavan Town's Farnham Street for anyone to browse and take home. The Shine booklet aimed at the youngest age group is called 'A Health Relationships Guide for Young Children'.
It sparks children to think and talk about the positive aspects of their lives, whilst also encouraging them to confide in someone they trust if they feel unsafe for any reason.
With very little writing, and lots of colourful pictures, and drawing challenges, this first booklet in the series is suitable for young children to work through alone, or to talk through with a parent, guardian or trusted adult.
“The ISPCC Childline Therapeutic Support Services team work on a one-to-one basis with children, young people, parents and carers, who have encountered difficult or traumatic times in their lives," explains the Monaghan woman. “Many have been exposed to domestic violence and seek support in relation to their safety, their feelings and emotions and how they view relationships.
“The ‘Shine’ booklets have been designed with these young people and others in mind, to support them to be as safe as possible – no matter what the situation in which they find themselves."
Michelle hopes the booklets will help empower young people impacted by domestic violence "to express their emotions more effectively and to better recognise appropriate and inappropriate relationships".
The booklets should prove a beneficial aid to many children, young people, parents and carers across the North East and beyond. They became a reality due to the hard work of Monaghan and Cavan Children and Young People’s Services (CYPSC) Safe and Protected from Harm subgroups designed, jointly funded, and launched the trio of age appropriate booklets.
Domestic violence occurs in all social classes, all ethnic groups and among people of every educational background. According to Tearmann the Domestic Abuse Service they received 120 new referrals from women in 2018 in Monaghan alone and these women had a total of 245 children.
A study by Unicef : “Behind Closed Doors the Impact of Domestic Violence on Children” shows how Infants and small children who are exposed to violence in the home experience so much added emotional stress that it can harm the development of their brains and impair cognitive and sensory growth. In many studies it has been shown that children are either in the same or the next room in over 60% of cases when domestic abuse occurs. As children get older they may have poor concentration at school, and tend not to do as well at school. Children who live with or who have been exposed to violence in the home face many challenges and risks that can last throughout their lives.
Ste Corrigan CYPSC Coordinator for Cavan acknowledged the interagency strength of The PPFS and CYPSC Outcome 3 working subgroup. This group brings together the expertise of Tearmann, The ISPCC , An Gardai Síochána, Tusla, Youth Work Ireland , North Eastern Regional Drug and Alcohol Task force, Parenting Cavan, HSE, and the Family Resource centres.
"The subgroup work together on a number of actions each year aimed at helping to protect and keep children safe from harm," Ste tells the Celt. "We encourage all children and young people to be aware of their right to a secure stable and caring environment and will continue to work towards making Cavan a safe County for Children and Young People to grow and be nurtured in."
Cathal Grant manager PPFS Tusla commented: "Tusla welcomes the development of this CYPSC booklet in partnership with the ISPCC, Tusla, Gardai, Tearmann, and Youth Services. Giving Professionals the tools to be able to engage with young people who may be witnessing Domestic Abuse at home is important in order for them to get support and access the right services for them at the right time. This booklet is just one step in supporting young people who are experiencing and witnessing unhealthy relationships in their life. The subgroup is also working on developing a group work programme with partner agencies to be launched later in the year".
Tusla recognise that simply being in a house where domestic abuse is happening is a form of emotional abuse of a child and recommends child protection referrals are made where a child is present in a home where domestic violence/abuse is a concern.