Chair of Community Dialogue Session, Familibase Ballyfermot

Dr. Paul Downes, Director of DCU Institute of Education's Educational Disadvantage Centre, chaired a community dialogue session with key statutory, community stakeholders, local politicians and schools at the Familibase, Ballyfermot showcase event on May 2nd. 

The session examined the national and local policy implications of the range of services provided by Familibase's community based, one stop shop model of multidiscipliinary team working, linked with schools and building on a Freirean commitment to working with the local community. Dr. Downes also highlighted how Familibase is a leader in a European context with regard to community and family outreach, as well as  multidisciplinary team working linked with schools. 

Paul Downes previously led the community wide consultation in Ballyfermot, involving children and teachers across all local primary and postprimary schools, to design the Familiscope community based multidisciplinary team, now developed into Familibase, Ballyfermot.