A new cross-border project has been launched that will benefit young children in both Cavan and Monaghan.
The Changing Lives Initiative: Flourish & Thrive project is community-led and addresses neurodevelopmental conditions, such as ADHD and Autism.
The cross-border project will provide a range of early intervention supports to families of children with queried neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and Autism.
This 4-year project is being supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Funding of €8.37m has been awarded to the project which will work with 8,700 children and families.
The project will be available to families in counties Louth, Cavan, Monaghan and the Belfast, South-Eastern and Northern Health & Social Care Trust Areas.
The supports are open to all parents and care givers in the project area who think their family might benefit. No diagnosis is required to access the supports. Parents can sign up themselves, or any practitioner (such as GP, teacher, family support) can link parents in with the project.
Hugh Doogan, CEO of Archways and Chairperson of the project’s Steering Committee told Northern Sound: "The Changing Lives Initiative: Flourish & Thrive offers early supports to parents of children who may be neurodivergent and experience the world in their own unique way- including those with or without a diagnosis of ADHD, Autism, or other neurodevelopmental differences.
"We offer a range of interventions to parents including workshops, short programmes, on-line supports and longer evidence-based parent programmes. When you register an interest, our team will match you with the most suitable interventions to meet your needs.
"The driving ambition of The Changing Lives Initiative: Flourish & Thrive is to develop a regionally consistent model of early support to families dealing with neurodiverse behaviours in their children, that can be adopted North and South as a sustainable and highly effective approach after PEACEPLUS funding ends in 2028."
Further information on how families can avail of the programme is available at www.changinglivesinitiative.com
