EARLY INTERVENTION and evidence-based programmes are key to improving outcomes for at-risk children and saving money for the taxpayer in the longer term.
This was the clear message to Government from a conference on prevention strategies for children and young people in Dublin yesterday.
Speaking at the “What’s Working for Children” event, the head of children’s charity Archways, Aileen O’Donoghue, said the Government needed to radically overhaul its approach to these services.
“For years, late intervention has dominated government approaches to working with children and families. But late intervention requires setting aside money for the resultant failure that is early school leaving, anti-social behaviour, unemployment or even life in prison,” she said
“Prevention and early intervention, by contrast, requires small amounts of money, which, when invested as early as possible, brings about immediate results.”
