Dóchas Family Centre (North Clondalkin Integrated Family/School Project CLG) is an independent organisation (No: 200489) and registered charity (CHY: 11976) based in Clondalkin. We are a trauma informed, strengths based project committed to supporting children aged 7-12 years who may have social, emotional or behavioural needs. We provide confidential therapeutic interventions, one to one and group support which is community based and accessible in order to strengthen the family unit. Dóchas has been providing support to families since 1995 and is committed to working with children and families in the medium-long term to tackle a range of familial issues. Children are central to our work and we encourage and support their voice in things that affect their lives. This includes regular feedback (see below):
“I learned how to be in a group and have fun”
“I’ve learned I’m a good person”
“I don’t get into as many fights as I used to at home and school”
“I have fun with my mam and key worker when we do weekly sessions together”
Dóchas staff are creative, highly qualified, committed, Garda vetted and professional with a diverse range of skills & experience to offer. We provide a service which empowers and enables children & families set and achieve their goals. We assess each family based on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCE’s) using the social ecology (or systems theory) model called ‘My World Triangle’ (see below), which focuses on multiple aspects of a child’s life. We transition children into local youth services when it’s safe and appropriate to do so.
Dóchas works in partnership with North Clondalkin families, external agencies e.g. Schools, Child & Family Agency (Tusla) and other local organisations.
We work to Child Safeguarding (see ‘What We Do’ page for policy) principles and key staff are ‘mandated’ in this respect.