“You have changed our lives and helped us achieve a happy home for our child”. Graduating Parent 2018
The first graduates from The Changing Lives Initiative (CLI) received their certificates on the 14th September 2018 at an emotional but beautiful event. Huge congratulations to the parents and their families, the facilitators Sandra Farrell, Siobhan McDonald and Annemarie Ó Murchú as well as Christina Ryan and Eileen Costello Rawat from the CLI team in Louth.
The Changing Lives Initiative only began its work in September 2017 but is already making an impact on local families.
Funded by the European Union’s INTERREG VA programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the initiative provides an early intervention programme for parents of children at risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is estimated that as many as 5 to 6% of school aged children have ADHD.
People with ADHD experience symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, difficulty finishing tasks, problems with short term memory, difficulty following instructions and often find it hard to sit still. Programmes like this are recommended as the first course of treatment for young children with symptoms of ADHD. They help to promote positive behaviours in children by helping parents to develop the skills that they need to deal with the symptoms that their child is experiencing.
So far this year The Changing Lives Initiative has delivered three 20 session Incredible Years based parent programmes, two in Dundalk and one in Drogheda.
Feedback from parents has been extremely positive with one parent commenting; “It was great to see my child for the great little man he is, to be able to understand him better.” Another says; “You have changed our lives and helped us achieve a happy home for our child”.
Outlining the importance of the event, Gina McIntyre CEO of the SEUPB, said: “The ground breaking approach taken by The Changing Lives initiative is helping to meet the needs of children, and families, with ADHD on both sides of the border. The project itself is very much in-keeping with the EU’s Framework on mental health and well-being which emphasises promotion, quality care and the sharing of best practice. The event today, in which we are delighted to participate, is about celebrating the dedication, commitment and hard work of all those who have undertaken this programme, as well as those who have made it possible. I wish to congratulate everyone involved to date in their achievements, which have, and will continue to have, such a tremendous impact on families on both sides of the border.”
As well as facilitating parent programmes The Changing Lives Team also work to raise awareness of, and create a better understanding about, ADHD.
