ADHD Changing Lives

Apr 6, 2017

ADHD Changing Lives is a project funded by the European Union (ERDF) under INTERREG VA Programme,Priority Axis 4 – Health, Specific Objective 4.1 – Health and Social Care for a period of 39 month (from Sept 2016 to Nov 2019). It is a partnership of five drawing from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Clondalkin Behavioural Initiative Ltd as the lead partner, with additional partners comprised of NetwellCasala at Dundalk Institute of Technology, Louth Leader Partnership, Colin Neighbourhood Partnership and NHS Highlands Argyll & Bute Social & Health Care Trust.

This Initiative will offer a programme for families consisting of an information and awareness raising programme, a screening programme for hyper kinetic disorders, and a treatment service in the form of the Incredible Years Parenting programme-ADHD protocol. It is anticipated that 60% of the children accessing the treatment will benefit from it. For children who don't benefit from the programme referrals on to CAMHS or other appropriate services will be made. In tandem with this process there will be training for those working with young children, in particular teachers and early years professionals to increase their awareness of ADHD and to support them in developing strategies to manage difficult behaviours. Protocols for referral into and on from the programme will be developed on a cross border basis.

This approach to dealing with hyperkinetic disorder and ADHD is very much in line with governmental policies in mental health and indeed policies for children generally in all three jurisdictions. It is also an option preferred by a large number of parent support groups. The Initiative will seek to add to the information and knowledge around this issue by developing, rolling out and evaluating a community-based, non-medical approach to the issue. In addition the Initiative will capture the learning from the process by which the Initiative was realised and facilitate its replication in other areas.

Project details

The project will establish a new common community based early intervention service, across three jurisdictions, for families with children aged 3-7 years, who have hyperkinetic disorder.

The three strands are:

  1. Information and awareness seminar will be delivered to 2,000 families. This will consist of two modules which will address the symptoms of ADHD and how it presents from preschool to the teenage years.
  2. Screening - Families attending the information seminar who have concerns about their children can access the screening programme. This process will identify children with hyperkinetic disorders using validated screening instruments. This will be accessed by an anticipated 1,400 families in total. The anticipated annual breakdown of delivery is: 460 families in 2017, 540 families in 2018 and 400 families in 2019.
  3. Treatment – 560 families will progress from the screening programme to participate in the 20 week Incredible years ADHD Parent Programme. The anticipated annual breakdown of delivery is: 60 families in 2017, 320 families in 2018 and 180 families in 2019.

A training programme will be rolled out in each area to ensure there are fully trained providers. This includes:

  • A common training programme for teachers and early year's providers in each jurisdiction to support the identification of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and to develop strategies to manage these.
  • Incredible Years training will be provided to staff of local organisations in the target areas and adjacent areas within the INTERREG catchment area who wish to participate in the initiative.

For further information contact the principal investigator:

Dr Lucia Carragher

Email: lucia.carragher@netwellcentre.org

Phone: +353 (0) 42 9370497 ext: 2677