
Meitheal -supporting you and your family so you can find the help you need
As the old saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. This is still true today. The name Meitheal comes from an old Irish word that describes how neighbours get together to give each other practical help and support.
Meitheal is a way of working with children and their families to identify and respond to their strengths and needs in a timely way.
Meithal brings together people and services who want to support a child or parent so that he or she can make the changes to their life that they want and need.
The kinds of services that might be involved in Meitheal are schools, youth services, family resource centres and medical services.
If you feel that your child has additional needs of is facing challenges that are difficult to overcome, Meitheal may be able to help you.
Examples of the challenges Meitheal could help with are:
- A child having problems at school
- A child feeling down
- Additional needs
- Family problems
- Illness or bereavement
- Difficult behaviour
- Relationship with your child
You may already be getting support from different services but finding it difficult to deal with all of them at once. Meitheal brings everyone together. Your family will have a supportive person called a lead practitioner. This person may be chosen by you. Your lead practitioner will help you and your child to identify your child’s strengths and needs.
The next step is your lead practitioner will arrange a Meitheal support meeting where you and your child will help to put a plan in place. Everybody will support you to follow your plan to make the changes you and your child wants in their life.
It is very important that you, your family and your child understand every part of the plan.
You, your child and your family will decide how long you want this support for.
My son is more settled now. I feel that all my concerns as a parent were listened to and we were included in all decisions.
Everyone’s on the same wavelength – I’m not having to relay back … Everyone sits at a table and we’re all on the same page.
If you think a Meitheal could help your family then contact your local office on 074 9123783