10 Ways to Sensitive Integration of a Stepparent
Introducing a new partner who may be potential stepparent to your children requires great care and patience with the focus on helping children to adapt. As part of our weekly ’10 Ways to …’ series, here are our tips on managing this situation so that, in time, all members of the family can enjoy positive and supportive […]
Modern Family on Today FM featuring One Family
Modern Family is a new Today FM four-part documentary series on family diversity in Ireland, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and narrated by Ray D’Arcy and produced by Mary Carroll. The series aims to explore the changing face of modern families. Part 4 is a focus on one-parent families and separated parents sharing […]
Family Day Festival Takes Place on 18 May
Press Release Family Day Festival celebrates family diversity of today’s Ireland on 18 May Sunday, 18 May 2014 | www.familyday.ie (Dublin, 18 April 2014) One Family – Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families in Ireland – celebrates the diversity of families in today’s Irish society with the free one-day Family Day Festival in Dublin’s Iveagh […]
10 Ways to Make the Most of School Breaks
For some parents the school holiday is a respite time with a more relaxed routine. However, it can be a nightmare for others for many reasons such as not being able to take time off work, lack of childcare options and tight budgets, and so requires a lot of planning and management. As parents we learn […]
National Policy Framework for Children and Young People Published Today
One Family strongly welcomes the publication of Better Outcomes: Brighter Futures – the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020 which was launched today by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD, in Dublin Castle and attended by our CEO Karen Kiernan. Better Outcomes: Brighter Futures aims to get 70,000 […]
10 Ways to Successful Shared Parenting
For many parents sharing parenting after separation, one parent is the ‘primary carer’ and the other spends their time with their child at weekends and holidays. As part of our ’10 Ways to …’ series of weekly parenting tips, here are our suggestions on minimising stress and helping both parents to focus on keeping the […]
Coping with the End of a Relationship
A relationship ending can mean a huge sense of loss, shock and disbelief, and result in anger, fear and stress. There are many practical issues to be sorted out which can seem overwhelming, particularly in a difficult break-up without both persons cooperating. These practical issues need attention and the sooner separating parents begin resolving them, the sooner the family […]
Children & Family Relationships Bill | Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice Hearings
Today Karen Kiernan, One Family’s CEO and Stuart Duffin, our Director of Policy & Programmes, attended the hearings by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice in relation to the Children & Family Relationships Bill and highlighted our concerns regarding ancillary supports for court, child safety issues and Child Contact Centres. Karen’s presentation is included below and the full […]
Government must Prioritise Childcare Provision as a Downturn-Buster
Press Release Childcare 101 – Government must Prioritise Childcare Provision as a Downturn-Buster (Dublin, Monday 7 April 2014) One Family – Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families in Ireland today – outlines the three major reasons that provision of affordable, accessible childcare is a necessity if Ireland is to make a full economic recovery soon. A new […]
Survey on Housing Supports
Would you like to contribute to our Budget 2015 submission? It’s easy – simply take our anonymous 3 question survey. Each short monthly survey has a focus on a different budget submission topic. This month’s survey is on Housing Supports. Take the survey and know that your voice is heard. If you would like to view the […]
Our Thoughts on Mother’s Day
One Family board members, staff, volunteers and lone parents working with us on policy issues respond to the question, “What does Mother’s Day mean to you this year?” When I was small I would steal daffodils for my mother from the neighbour’s garden. I would fill my hands with the stems until I could hold […]
Pilot Child Contact Centre Evaluation and Key Learnings Documents
One Family launches the Evaluation of the Child Contact Centre pilot services and our Key Learnings document containing Policy Recommendations for Policy Makers today, Friday 28 March in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle at 9.30am. Speakers include the Hon Mr Justice Michael White of the High Court and Chair of the Courts Family Law Committee; Dr Stephanie Holt of the School of […]
10 Ways to Establish a Bedtime Routine
Many children find it difficult to settle down at bedtime which can lead to challenges. For this week’s ’10 Ways to …’ post offering parenting tips, we look at how to establish your child’s bedtime routine. Here are some tips that should help: Adequate Sleep: How much sleep does your child need every day? Use the guide […]
Courts Need Professionally Conducted Assessments to Ensure Child Safety
Press Release Courts Need Professionally Conducted Assessments to Ensure Child Safety Child Contact Centre Pilot Services Evaluation Launched by One Family (Dublin, Thursday 27 March 2014) One Family – Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families – launches the Evaluation of the Child Contact Centre pilot services and its Policy Recommendations for Policy Makers document on […]
10 Ways to Understand the Value of Play
For our ’10 Ways to …’ feature this week, we explore why play is important. Read on for our ‘10 Ways to Understand the Value of Play’. The importance of play in a child’s life cannot be underestimated. Play is a child’s work and is “serious stuff”. Importance of play: Play fosters a child’s development in every […]
Childcare Provision Failure is One of Government’s Harshest Blows to One-Parent Families
Press Release Childcare Provision Failure is One of Government’s Harshest Blows to One-Parent Families www.onefamily.ie (Dublin, Wednesday 19 March 2014) One Family – Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families in Ireland today – responds to the pending publication of a new report due for release later this month by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and […]
Launch of Child Contact Centre Pilot Services Evaluation and Recommendations
Child Contact Centre services were run on a pilot basis in two locations in north and south Dublin between 2011 and 2013 by Barnardos and One Family in a partnership arrangement. The service offered a range of assessment, contact and family support services to high-conflict families who were frequently in legal disputes in relation to […]
Our Response to Draft Heads of Children and Family Relationships Bill
One Family has submitted a Response to the Draft Heads of the Children and Family Relationships Bill to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. One Family holds a broad and inclusive view of family life and we work with people who parent alone, people who share parenting of their children as well as families who are […]
An International Women’s Day Focus – Mother’s Education Level
Press Release An International Women’s Day Focus – Mother’s Education Level and Impacts on Lone Parenthood and Well-Being of Children (Dublin, Friday 7th February 2014) One Family – Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families in Ireland today – looks forward to acknowledgment of International Women’s Day on Saturday 8th March and calls for a new […]
10 Ways to Build and Maintain a Close Relationship with your Teenager
As part of our ’10 Ways to …’ series which offers tips for parents on a variety of topics, here are our ‘10 Ways to Build and Maintain a Close Relationship with your Teenager‘. Talk with them: Talking to your teenager, not at them, is the key to good communication. Listen: Listen to what they […]