Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs)

Supporting families and keeping children and young people safe is everyone’s business. Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) help families experience services as easily as possible in their own area. They support this by taking a localised, area-based approach.

Given the variety in population density, levels of need, and service provision in different areas, a number of CFSNs will be established in each area.

The local CFSNs should consist of all services that play a role in the lives of children and families in a given area. This includes local statutory service providers (e.g. psychology, public health nurses, social work, educational welfare etc) and also local voluntary and community services (Family Support Centres and agencies funded through the HSE/CFSA/Pobal/Dept. of Education etc).

CFSNs work effectively with families to make sure:

• There is “no wrong door” for families
• All families in their locality receive easily accessible support, appropriate to meet their identified needs.

If a family presents to one of the services within the network and that service isn’t equipped to meet their needs, that network member will effectively re-direct the family to the network member that is most appropriate to their needs.

The Child & Family Support Network Coordinator is a key role in the CFSN, supporting the development of the Network and also overseeing the Meitheal process (outlined above).

Please click here for contact details of each of the CFSNs.