Archways Service Developments in Ireland

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Archways Service Developments in Ireland

• Using evidence based programmes to support
  parents, teachers, and children
• 19th March 2009

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Who are Archways?

• Archways is a national organisation established
  in January 2007
• Archways mission is to facilitate mainstream
  delivery of high-quality evidence-based
  programmes that will meet the needs of all
  children and teenagers with emotional and
  behavioural difficulties, as well as those of
  their parents, carers and teachers. Archways are
  based in a demographically disadvantaged area in
  south Dublin

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Needs-led development and chance opportunities

• Archways are based in a demographically
  disadvantaged area in south Dublin
• High levels of unemployment, poverty, drugs and
  criminal activity
• Estimated prevalence of conduct disorder of
  between 20-23 in our child population
• Prior to 2006 less than one in ten identified
  child received any form of intervention
• Less than one of those ten received a proven
  evidence based service
• Real danger quarter of localised generation of
  children would be lost in the system

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Incredible years introduction
This message directly lead to the introduction
of the Incredible Years programmes in Clondalkin
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IY development 2006
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IY development 2008
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Locations development

• Archways role has been to provide initial
  planning, training implementation supports for
  programme development in these areas
• Most important role to spread the word Advocate
  at all levels IY works
• Key partnerships with organisations have been
  formed in each area
• Expert and enthusiastic staff in each of these
  organisations allowed the IY Programme to be
  introduced and embedded in 12 locations and
  hundreds of organisations throughout the country
• Working Archways has created a culture of
  excellence within each region
• High levels of Accreditation attained leading to
  delivery and service excellence. Mentor status
  being actively pursued

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An Irish evidence base

• 2007 we began a suite of 3 randomised control
  trials
• First time this methodology utilised within an
  Irish context
• Parent programme RCT Involving 156 parents
  completed June 2009.
• High levels of supervision to leaders provided
  leading to accreditation for all leader
  participants across the agencies which partnered
  with us.
• Teacher Classroom Management programme RCT
  ongoing, 11 schools selected with training being
  provided by accredited group leaders ,data
  collected from over 300 children
• Combination of Parent, Teacher and Child training
  programmes currently being designed

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Upcoming events

• Archways conference in September 21st 2009
• Carolyn Webster -Stratton to attend as keynote
  speaker
• Results of Parent RCT Presented
• Inputs from other Irish locations where research
  programmes are currently taking place

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Conclusion

• Why reinvent the wheel?
• Even great programmes require advocates
• Implementation partnerships work best
• Programme now fully embedded in key locations in
  the country
• Results must lead to change change requires
  collective effort
• Archways in the process of planning an Ireland
  forum represent all organisations delivering the
  programme to be established
• Archways role important - success due to those
  delivering on the ground
• Thank them, the courage of families for
  participating, thank you for listening.

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Thank You
smcdonnell_at_archways.ie www.archways.ie