MAGICAL STORIES PROVE PROGRAMME IS HERE TO STAY
THE Genesis Programme, which has over 50 partner organisations, has been delivering the Incredible Years suite of programmes to children, families and communities in areas of entrenched disadvantage in Drogheda and Dundalk for a decade. These programmes promote and enhance children’s social, emotional and cognitive wellbeing from pre-birth to six years of age.
The Genesis Programme is part of the ABC (Area Based Childhood) Programme funded by the Department of Children & Youth Affairs.
The vision is to measurably improve the well-being and development outcomes for children up to primary school-going age in targeted areas by implementing The Incredible Years suite of programmes with fidelity using an agreed area-based approach.
Local Genesis co-ordinator Hugh Doogan says the graduation ceremonies affirm what a success the programme has been in Drogheda.
‘It’s been literally ten incredible years, and not that we need affirmation, but when we hear from parents how well it works for them, it’s a great point of reference for the teachers and facilitators,’ he says.
‘ There’s a lot done, but more to do, and last September, we developed a team based in Drogheda and in DkIT, and we are working with children at risk of ADHD countywide, which is a big step.
‘We need to get out to more families and what attracted us first 12 years ago is it works with parents, children and teachers.’
The Incredible Years programme is designed to prevent and treat emotional and behavioural difficulties in children.
The programme was developed in the University of Washington in Seattle by Dr Carolyn Webster-Stratton. The series contains three separate training programmes for parents, teachers and children.
Whilst each programme has been designed as a stand-alone intervention, taken together, the aim to provide a cohesive and uniform strategy to address and eliminate behavioural difficulties in children.
‘It is very special for me to hear how parents’ lives are made better by the programme,’ said Dr Webster-Stratton, speaking after the graduation ceremony in the d Hotel last Thursday.
‘It is also good for parents to hear how others are going through some common things, and they are not alone.
‘It normalises the feelings, which you only get after you have children. I told them this morning about the advanced programme, which talks about dealing with anger managament and depression; things I only felt after becoming a parent. Before kids, it’s not the emotional aspect - after, it’s all important.’