Sir, – I wish to give a tentative welcome to the new Child and Family Agency (Home News, January 31st).
Tentative, because I am disturbed to see psychology is not one of the core services provided by the agency. During my career in the area of the children’s health service as a psychologist, I repeatedly saw the value of a psychological perspective included at the earliest stages of many interventions with children, whether it was an infant who was not thriving because of maternal depression, a pre-schooler with anxiety and toileting problems, a school- aged child who was being bullied because of a learning disability, or a teenager who was depressed because of identity issues.
This psychological perspective is even more important when trying to understand and help young people who have been hurt by difficult or traumatic experiences often resulting in behavioural, cognitive and emotional problems which lead to placements in care.
I am not sure why psychologists are not part of the new agency. It has been many years since I worked directly in the children’s services, but I would appeal to all the stakeholders involved to come together to give our children the best holistic service possible. – Yours, etc,
Dr MAEVE MARTIN,
Ard Gaoithe,
Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
Sir, – The new Child and Family Agency has been set up to ensure that there will be better communication between State agencies and a standardised approach to care. Except at its inception, not all necessary services have been transferred.
Why have public health nursers and children's mental health services not been included? If this new agency is, as the Taoiseach said in his speech, "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to reform child protection and welfare services, the omission of these crucial service is an opportunity wasted. The Irish Times should investigate why these essential services have not been brought under the authority of the new agency. – Yours, etc,
MIRIAM KELLEHER,
Woodpark,
Ballinteer, Dublin 16.