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ABOUT USHistory
The Have A Break scheme has been in existence since 1987. It was organised by a group of
interested professionals working with children and families
with disabilities who saw the benefits of setting up
such a scheme i.e.
- Providing a holiday break for
the child
- Providing a break from caring
for the families
- Providing a rewarding experience
for the host carer and their family
The scheme has been funded by the local HSE Disability
Service, but is organised under the auspices of the
Daughters of Charity Services.
An inter-agency committee of individual professionals
working in various disability services in the Mid West,
i.e. Brothers of Charity, Daughters of Charity, Enable
Ireland, Local HSE, meet on a regular basis to decide
on the day-to-day running of the scheme i.e. appropriate
matching of individual childrens care needs with the
skills and attributes of host carers.
The committee also advertise, recruit, train and assess
host carers to sufficiently prepare and support them
to provide quality care to the children who come into
their service.
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The Committee |
| Catherine
O'Sullivan - Co-ordinator |
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Catherine O'Sullivan has been a Principal
Social Worker with Daughters of Charity
Lisnagry since 1998 and is also the Chairperson
of the inter-agency committee that runs
the Have-A-Break scheme.
She is also the Vice Chairperson of National
Home Sharing Network and strongly believes
that Home-Sharing is a very valuable and
effective way of providing respite for children
and their families.
Catherine is currently employed by the Daughters
of Charity Service, St. Vincents Centre,
Lisnagry, Limerick.
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| Maura
Walsh |
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Maura has been involved in the Have-A-Break
scheme since 2000 and during that time she
has found it to be a most valuable service
for families and an enjoyable break for
children.
She is a social work team leader employed
by the Brothers of Charity and currently
works in the Early Intervention Services
with children for 0-6 years as part of the
Treehouse Team, St. Gabriel's and with the
Blackberry Team, Enable Ireland.
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| Sandra
Graham - Treasurer |
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Sandra Graham has been an active member
of the Have-A-Break committee since 1997
and is the current treasurer.
She is a Senior Public Health Nurse employed
by HSE Western Area, working directly with
families of children with Disabilities. |
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| Noel
Walsh - PRO & Host Parent Representative |
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Noel Walsh has been involved with the Have
a Break Committee for a number of years
as the Host Parent Representative and PRO
for the group. He is also directly involved
with the training of Host Parents.
Together with his wife Phil and children
Alice, Paul and Claire the Walsh's have
been a host family since 1987. Over the
years a number of children with different
disabilities have come to stayed with them
ranging from half days up to a week depending
on the need.
Noel and family have made quite a number
of friends due to the Have a Break Scheme
and as a family benefited enormously from
their involvement . They hope to stay involved
for the foreseeable future. |
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| Joan
O'Brien - Secretary |
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Joan O’Brien has been secretary to
the Have-A-Break committee for the past
few years during which time she has provided
invaluable administrative support to the
scheme.
She is currently employed by the Daughters
of Charity Lisnagry. |
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| Evelyn
O'Brien - Respite Coordinator |
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Evelyn O'Brien has been involved in the
Have-A-Break committee for the past number
of years.
She works as the Mid-West Family Support
Co-ordinator with Enable Ireland and is
based in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
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| TIPS |
Tip #1
The committee are happy to answer any questions and support families. |
Tip #2
Children with Disabilities love new experience and making
new friends. |
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