We are delighted to announce that the Irish Association of Young People In Care will be setting up a Forum For Young People In Care. The forum will take place from June to November 2010. A group of young people in foster will meet with our Childrens Rights and Participation Officers and an independent facilitator to discuss the issues that are important to them in their lives in care. The young people themselves will decide what will be discussed at the meetings.

We are very excited about this opportunity to meet with young people and hear their views knowing that what they say will be heard by people in a position to make changes and influence policy and practice. The forum is a great opportunity too for young people to have fun and meet new people with similar experiences. They can have their views and opinions heard on issues affecting them and bring these issues to the HSE Senior Management.

We would like to thank Pat Dunne, Local Health Manager for Dublin North East, who has expressed his commitment to the forum by ensuring that the young people's views, opinions and recommendations are heard by senior managers and practitioners. He has also committed, where possible, to use the young people’s views to influence training, practice and policy in the future.

How to get involved

We hope to continue this forum into the future. If you feel you would like to get involved in IAYPIC forums, please contact IAYPIC or speak to your social worker about contacting us. Everyone’s experience in care is different so we always love to hear from new people!