Participation Strategy for Children and Young People

Tusla is committed to involving children in decision making on matters that affect their lives, at the individual and collective levels. This commitment is embedded in Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Child Care Act 1991, Tusla’s founding legislation; the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 and The DCYA National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision Making (2015 – 2020).

In 2014, Tusla published “Towards the Development of a Participation Strategy”, stating the participation of children and young people is fundamental to a child-centred rights based approach to working with children and young people. Its aim was to ensure that every time a decision is taken that directly affects a child or young person (or children and young people collectively), their views are taken into consideration in the decision making process. You can find “Towards the Development of a Participation Strategy” here

Now, Tusla are currently developing “Tusla’s Participation Strategy for Children and Young People”.  It has been widely consulted upon at both a local and national level and is currently in the process of consultation with children and young people from the four Tusla regions.

This strategy and the commitment to hearing the voice of children and young people is relevant to all Tusla staff as well as organisations and practitioners funded by the agency to provide services to children, young people and their families. It is also of relevance to other partners, both statutory and non-statutory, who are not directly funded by the Child and Family Agency, but who have a central role in assisting the agency to achieve positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.

We want to actively involve children and young people from Tusla and Tusla funded services in the development of this strategy. If you are working with a young person or group of young people and would like to get involved, please contact emma.hanway@tusla.ie  for more information.