Family Centre celebrates 21 years supporting community

THE delivery of 21 years of therapeutic and practical support by the Jobstown Family Centre has been celebrated, alongside its steady provision of targeted and accessible services in an ever-changing society.

Meeting the needs of local families since 2001, the Jobstown Family Centre provides a free service from its location in the Mary Mercer Health Centre.

Run by the Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service, the Jobstown Family Centre is a not-for-profit voluntary agency mainly funded by TUSLA.

Free services include a range of supports across the areas of advocacy, parenting, bereavement, separation, loss, bullying, mental health, school avoidance and school related issues.

There’s also services for the impact of domestic abuse, substance abuse, support with traumatic life events and building relationships in families.

The centre, which supported more than 100 families last year, provides a flexible support service for families, who can refer themselves or be referred by an agency.

During Covid restrictions, the service continued to respond to families and young people seeking support, with remote services including phone calls, online sessions, walk and talk and resource packs.

As the centre celebrated 21 years, all staff were commended for their creativity in supporting the continuity of services during this time and introducing new ways of responding to the needs of the community.

Since the lifting of restrictions, programmes are back on a face-to-face basis, with a number of programmes introduced to help alleviate emerging issues as a result of the pandemic.

One such initiative was the Summer Group, an activity group established to support young people struggling socially following lockdown, those struggling to return to school or who have lost friendships.

This group has since grown into a programme called Terrific Teens, which helped the centre achieve TUSLA’s Investing in Children’s Award.

A mural project was also completed outside the centre this year with a group of 26 children and young people, and with support from graffiti artist Darrin Rask.

This mural enhances the warm environment of the family centre as parents, young people and children visit the welcoming premises, which includes an art room, family room, playroom and den.

In its 22nd year, the centre is continuing to adapt and introduce additional services, including a small anxiety group with both children and parents, summer camp activities, a neurodiversity group, leadership group for young people and play therapy.

Covid-19 also highlighted the many gaps in services for families, with the centre aware of the huge challenges faced by parents as they await assessments for their children with additional complex needs.

Last Friday, June 10, local organisations and agencies joined centre staff, Board members, the CEO of TUSLA Bernard Gloster and clients in marking the milestone birthday.

Thanking staff, families and voluntary and statutory agencies, centre manager Laura Murphy said: “We know we are making a difference in the service we provide in Jobstown for children and families.

“We in the [Jobstown Family Centre] recognise the essential dignity and potential of every person and the right of every child to live as full a life as possible within his or her own family, and undertake to deliver quality services to children at risk and families most in need in a constantly changing society.”

Contact the Jobstown Family Centre on 01 4585703, email jobstownfc@docharity.ie or download a referral form from dochildandfamily.