Participation Resources

The Child and Youth Participation Strategy 2019 - 2023 aims to ensure that every time a decision is taken, which directly affects a child or young person or children and young people collectively, their views are taken into consideration in the decision making process. The Strategy states that:

'A modern public service places the service user at the heart of decision-making, service planning and provision. The Child and Family Agency  is committed to engaging with children, families and communities regarding the design and quality of services. The participation of children and young people is fundamental to a child centred,  rights-based approach to working with children and young people. It is a requirement of the forthcoming Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) National Participation Policy for Children and Young People and the pending National Children's Charter. It is also a key recommendation in the recent reports documenting Ireland’s failure to protect children experiencing abuse and neglect and is one of the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA) National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children. As well as it being a right and in keeping with national policy, there is evidence to suggest that when children and young people are meaningfully engaged in child protection interventions it can lead to better outcomes, including better targeted services for children and their families and the empowerment of children and young people (Bell, 2002; La Valle et al., 2012)'.

The following is an outline of resources for staff to support the participation of children and young people in decision-making:

• Child and Youth Participation Strategy 2019 - 2023
• Child and Youth Participation Toolkit  - Tusla’s Child and Youth Participation Toolkit’s purpose is to support staff to facilitate child and youth participatory practice at every level and in every engagement with a child or young person. This toolkit outlines the context and rationale for child and youth participation, guidance in the application of the Lundy model of participation and examples of activities that can support participatory practice. 
• Child and Youth Participation Toolkit specifically for Statutory Education Welfare Service - For use in conjunction with main Child and Youth Participation Toolkit
• Participation of Children and Young People - Our Approach
• Children and young people's experiences of participation in decision-making at home, in schools and in their communities
• TACTIC - Publications by and for Teenagers and Children Talking in Care
• Hear by right: Self assessment tool to plan and map the participation of children and young people in your organisation
• Learning to Listen: Core principles for the involvement of children and young people
• Consulting with children with disabilities as service users (2007)
• Local Participation Practice Guidelines Sligo Leitrim CYPSC
• Practical guide for including seldom heard children 
• Council of Europe Children’s Rights Division and Youth Department - CHILD PARTICIPATION ASSESSMENT TOOL 
• DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH AFFAIRS; Children and young people’s experiences of participation in decision-making at home, in schools and in their communities 
• Guidelines on how to include children and young people in your work 
• Participation Framework National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making
• Second level Student Council Resource Pack
• Pieces of Us OCO
• Laura Lundy Participation Infographic

Resources and Toolkits for Children and Young People's Involvement

Outlined below are useful sites which provide guidance from Ireland and internationally in the area of children and young people’s involvement.