About Familibase

FamiliBase is a centre for children, young people and families based in Dublin 10. FamiliBase has three strands of service delivery i.e. Early Years Care and Education, Child and Family Supports and Youth and Community Supports. FamiliBase operates an integrated model of practice. Programme delivery in FamiliBase occurs at different levels i.e. from universal level to intensive wrap around practice for those with multiple or more complex needs. FamiliBase could be described as a ‘one stop shop’ of supports for children, young people and families.

What kind of organisation is FamiliBase?

FamiliBase is a community based, not for profit organisation with charitable status that works with children, young people and families supported by a range of funders. It is a Company Limited by Gurantee (CLG) and a Type C organisation under the Charity Regulator’s Governance Code. FamiliBase has a voluntary Board of Directors with a range of expertise across key areas e.g. finance, accountancy, business, youth work, equality, social care practice, life-long learning, child protection, community development, local government, addiction, public relations.

FamiliBase recognises that not all children, young people and families have the same opportunities and therefore we positively target our resources to promote equality of outcome. FamiliBase demonstrates respect by welcoming, acknowledging, actively listening, empathising, compassionately challenging, affirming and celebrating individual successes. FamiliBase commits to integrity at all times by being honest and authentic in our work, accountable in our actions, transparent in our behaviour and interactions and at all times aware of our duty of care to children, young people and families. Partnership informs all of the work of FamiliBase. FamiliBase works in partnership on a number of levels. We partner with children, young people and families, in addition to local, national and statutory organisations, including our funders. We work collaboratively, respectfully and transparently across all of our partnerships while keeping our advocacy role to the forefront of our work.

Key messages about what FamiliBase does?

FamiliBase works with children, young people and families in the local community of Dublin 10

FamiliBase works with children and gives them opportunities to develop in their early years

FamiliBase works with young people giving them opportunities to develop, challenge and grow

FamiliBase works with children, young people and families to help them solve challenges they may be experiencing

FamiliBase helps children, young people and families take messages to local education and health providers about what works for them and what is not working for them.

FamiliBase helps the community to take messages to local and national decision makers and funders on what works in their community

FamiliBase helps the community talk about the impact of poverty and inequality on their families and community over time

Summary of the FamiliBase model of practice

FamiliBase consists of a multi-disciplinary team with staff recruited from the following range of disciplines; Early Years, Arts, Social Care, Youth Work, Youth & Community Work, Formal Education, Addiction Counselling, Business, Administration and Finance. FamiliBase has three strand pillars i.e. Early Years Care and Education Strand, Child & Family Strand and the Youth and Community Strand. FamiliBase operates an integrated model of practice with integration occurring within the programme pillars and also across them. The level of integration is based on the needs presenting from the children and young people. Programme delivery in FamiliBase occurs at a range of different levels i.e. from universal level to intensive wrap around practice[1] for those with multiple or more complex needs. FamiliBase could be described as a ‘one stop shop’. In FamiliBase’s experience, a case-management approach, is the most effective for children and young people with more complex and/or multiple needs. This includes pro-active and where required intensive outreach & engagement strategies including school/training morning programmes, weekly home visiting, support to statutory appointments, street-work, individual key-working. To facilitate positive outcomes for the children, young people and families this requires time, trust, respectful relationships and persistence. The philosophy of the organisation is significant in terms of how the practice is supported at that level. From FamiliBase’s perspective the ‘how’ of what it delivers is as important as the ‘what’.

FamiliBase Philosophy

The overall philosophy of FamiliBase’s model of practice and service delivery is reflected in the organisation’s values. It is underpinned and informed by three discourses; the discourses of ecological systems theory, equality of outcome and community development.

Ecological Systems Theory[2]

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theoretical framework is used in terms of understanding the external influences upon the child/young person and his/her subsequent development and the interaction of the various external factors and systems that operate around an individual child/young person.

Bronfenbrenner’s theory identifies 5 subsystems whose existence and interrelationships he proposes have an impact on human growth, development and behaviour. FamiliBase’s model is developed in cognisance of the subsystems that operate in and around a child and young person and also in how the subsystems interact with each other and to what end.

Equality of Outcome

Lynch and Lodge’s framework of four major generative roots of inequality also influences FamiliBase’s model of practice. In particular their identification of the separate but inter-related challenges for those interested in social change. FamiliBase are mindful of these four areas of inequality in planning its programme delivery and seeking to effect change in partnership with the children, young people, families and wider community.

Source of inequality

Source

of inequality

Source

of inequality

Source

of inequality

Distribution

Recognition

Representation

Affective

Patterns of ownership, control, distribution, opportunities and consumption

Culturally based systems of recognition, non-recognition and misrecognition, status-related inequalities i.e. those arising from sexuality, religion, beliefs, ethnicity

In contexts where power is enacted, in realms of decision making, in systems of inclusion/exclusion in the exercise of power

Relations of dependency and interdependency, human beings are not just rational actors; they are also affective agents in social & political life

Principles of Community Development

Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing these groups with the skills they need to affect change in their own communities. Community developers must understand both how to work with individuals and how to affect communities’ positions within the context of larger social institutions.

Community Development Exchange (www.cdx.org.uk) defines community development as

“both an occupation (such as a community development worker in a local authority) and a way of working with communities. Its key purpose is to build communities based on justice, equality and mutual respect.”

In the context of the work that FamiliBase is engaged with, it is the way of working that is most relevant.

“Community development involves changing the relationships between ordinary people and people in positions of power, so that everyone can take part in the issues that affect their lives. It starts from the principle that within any community there is a wealth of knowledge and experience which, if used in creative ways, can be channeled into collective action to achieve the communities’ desired goals.”

Board Directors listing 2023

Full name	Board Member Type
Michael Sands	Chairperson & Director
Jennifer Courtney	Vice Chairperson & Director
Stewart Dunne	Director
Cllr. Daithi Doolan	Director
Cllr. Hazel de Noirtuin	Director
Emer Mullins	Director
Jennifer Courtney	Director
Michael Mason	Director
Keith McManus	Director
Mamy Nzema Nkoy	Director
Niall O’Carroll	Director

FamiliBase Board of Directors meet on Tuesdays on a 6 weekly basis.

[1] See FamiliBase model of practice image

[2] FamiliBase Youth Supports operate from a Critical Social Education Model of Youth Work whilst also recognising the ecological systems theory framework in the context of the relationships with individuals’ environments within communities and the wider society.