There were celebrations in Dundalk and in Drogheda as 112 parents graduated after successfully completing an Incredible Years Parent Programme. The Genesis Programme oversees the delivery of the Incredible Years suite of programmes through the ABC (Area Based Childhood) Programme and The Changing Lives Initiative (CLI).
For the first time ever, parents graduating from the ABC Programme, were joined by those graduating from the CLI.
The Changing Lives Initiative is a community-based project which provides an early intervention group based parent programme for parents of children aged 3 to 7 years who are experiencing behaviours consistent with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
On Friday 14th June, there were celebrations as 47 parents graduated after successfully completing the Incredible Years Parent Programme, at a special event in Dundalk Institute of Technology, where family and friends joined them.
The Genesis Programme’s Dundalk Area Coordination Team (ACT) hosted the event. Members of the Dundalk ACT including representatives from the local schools, early years services, Community Groups, TUSLA and the HSE joined the graduating parents in their celebrations.
The following experienced Group Leaders facilitated the programmes:
• Muirne Lawlor (St. Joseph’s National School)
• Gillian Plunkett
• Annemarie Ó Murchú (The Changing Lives Initiative)
• Carol Ann White ( Scoil Eoin Baiste)
• Nora Donaghy
• Siobhán McDonald (The Changing Lives Initiative)
• Sandra Farrell (The Changing Lives Initiative)
Parents who completed the ADHD focussed programme delivered through the CLI said: ‘Incredible Years has changed our families life’s for the better, realising that we are the calm in our children’s storm has been one of the biggest realisations for our group’ and ‘I found the group fantastic. It really helped. The support and advice I received was brilliant, especially with three kids with additional needs’.
Niall Weldon, School Completion Programme Dhun Dealgan and Chairperson of the Dundalk ACT said: ‘I think it’s great that the parents receive recognition in a formal education setting such as DKIT. I think the programmes they have been trained in make a lasting positive effect on their children and families. I feel that any of these programmes show that parents aren’t in this on their own, that there are a lot of parents with similar issues and needs and the peer support that they get from one another is just outstanding’.
Then on Tuesday 18th June, at what was the 12th annual Incredible Years Parent Graduation event in Drogheda, 65 parents from different programmes delivered through The Genesis Programme, including the first group held in Ardee, graduated with flying colours at a packed and excited Glenside Hotel.
The ceremony saw 26 parents graduate from the Incredible Years Basic Parent Programme. Also graduating on the day was the Baby Massage group who completed the programme in Marymount NS with 12 parents and babies. This programme focuses on attachment and bonding between parents and their babies and was delivered over 5 weeks and enjoyed by all who attended. A further 27 parents who completed the CLI programme also graduated which was delivered in both Ardee and Drogheda through morning and evening sessions.
The following Group Leaders facilitated the programmes delivered in Drogheda and Ardee:
• Nichola Chambers
• Gillian Plunkett
• Siobhan Haughey
• Annemarie Ó Murchú (The Changing Lives Initiative)
• Paula Holland
• Laura Sherry (ABC Programme)
• Siobhán McDonald (The Changing Lives Initiative)
• Sandra Farrell (The Changing Lives Initiative)
Paul, one of the graduates said, ‘At the beginning we felt like strangers coming into a new environment. As the programme progressed, we learnt so much about each other. We got to know each other’s families and by the end we knew each other like best buddies’.
Maria Torpey, Principal at Marymount NS said ‘The Incredible Years Parent Programme first began in Marymount NS in 2008 and we consider ourselves extraordinarily lucky to continue to have such a resource available to the parents in our school community. Parenting is a difficult task and for those parents who have engaged with the programme the benefits as described to me by them are establishing improved relationships with the children and also giving the parents the courage to take good decisions on behalf of their children and being able to follow through on those decisions.
In our experience as a school the greater parental engagement the greater the benefits for the child in school. Therefore, the Incredible Years Parenting Programme has been a win-win for all of us and most importantly for the children who are our primary concern. We thank The Genesis Programme for their continued support of the Programme.’
Hugh Doogan, Programme Manager with The Genesis Programme said ‘The Genesis Programme prides itself on its community based approach to prevention and early intervention. The success of the programme to date has been far reaching in delivering better developmental outcomes for children and their families across Co Louth. It is great to see parents involved in a number of different parenting programmes graduate today on this the 12th anniversary of the event here in Drogheda’.
