Ireland’s Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children & Young People (2014-2020) is a broad document providing a policy framework based on the following “transformational goals”: supporting parents; earlier intervention and prevention; listening to and involving children and young people; ensuring quality services; strengthening transitions; and cross-government and interagency collaboration and coordination.
In many ways, these are the same foundational goals that COPE maintains in its work with children who have imprisoned parents. Such work is cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary and focused on improving the lives of children through supporting parents and the institutions that mediate their lives: a holistic approach to creating broad social change.