Tusla - Ireland's Child & Family Agency

Barnahus

Providing an integrated response to child sexual abuse

Barnahus, which translates as ‘Child House’ - is the leading European model of a child-friendly multidisciplinary response and is being established in Ireland to integrate health, medical, child protection, therapeutic, and policing services for children and young people who may have experience child sexual abuse. 

 At Barnahus, we know that any form of sexual abuse can affect children, young people and their families in different kinds of ways. Families may need support to navigate their way through the different systems and not know where they can get the right support. At Barnahus, we want to make sure that children and young people receive the right help and support by coordinating and providing all the services children and young people need.  We bring together Tusla, the HSE and Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU), and An Garda Síochana, the agencies responsible for child protection. By responding in this way, the services can work together in the best interest of the child; share information, gather the best evidence and help prevent any further trauma to the child by limiting the number of times they have to tell professionals what has happened to them.  We aim to provide the support children and families need to ensure overall better outcomes by offering timely and coordinated.

The Barnahus interagency response includes a joint or single agency specialist interview of the child, forensic medical examination, child protection and therapy.

There are currently two Barnahus in Ireland. Barnahus West is based in Galway and serves the North West, West and Mid-West of Ireland. Barnahus South has recently launched and in its initial phase, serves Cork and Kerry. 

Barnahus West

The Barnahus West premises was designed by children for children. The building is discreet, safe and child-friendly. There are interview, medical and therapy rooms and there are comfortable waiting and play areas for children and young people. The layout of the building is designed to support team members from the three agencies to work together under one roof.

Contact Barnahus West on 087 4638779 / barnahuswest@tusla.ie 

Barnahus South (Cork/Kerry)

Barnahus South is currently working from its existing Tusla, HSE and AGS locations in Cork city while we await a new building that will allow the services to be co located in a child friendly ‘one house’ in Cork city. Once set up, the service will be extended to also serve children from Waterford and South Tipperary.

Contact Barnahus South on 021 4923302 / barnahussouth@tusla.ie

Please note Barnahus South only serves Cork and Kerry at this time.

For more information on Barnahus, please visit barnahus.eu

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