President to launch Child and Family Research Centre

Today President Mary McAleese will officially launch the Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway.  The Centre aims to improve outcomes for children and their families, and advance practice and policy in Ireland and internationally, through research, evaluation and service development

According to Dr Pat Dolan, Director of the Child and Family Research Centre, there is a need for more research that focuses on finding ways to support children and families in crises and prior to the escalation of problems. 

Its director, Dr. Pat Dolan, writing in today’s Irish Times says “This responsibility to achieve better outcomes for families lies not just with government or local services, it applies to young people, their families, schools, communities and the the Irish universities’ children’s research community”.

In 2007 the Child and Family Research Centre was awarded significant support from The Atlantic Philanthropies Ireland under its Disadvantaged Children and Youth Programme which aims for better health and life outcomes for young people experiencing adversity. Over the next five to ten years the CFRC will become a leading centre of excellence, with over 20 full-time staff and PhD students and an international visiting faculty programme.