Your Family Forum

Each Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT) in the country has a family forum. Parents and caregivers who have children linked to a CDNT come together to talk about children’s disability services in their area. 

How family forums work

• The Family Forums involve families in the development of their local CDNT. This is done in two ways: 
  • the identification of issues and ideas for service development and/or enhancement. 
  • and sharing suggestions for future service development and ways to improve existing services.
• Every two years, parents who attend their local family forum elect two Family Representatives.  These representatives will meet the Children's Disability Network Manager (CDNM) in between each forum to discuss and progress ideas that were raised at the family forum.  Parents will be notified of upcoming elections.
• Each Family Representative will join a wider Family Representative Group (FRG), which will also meet. Our FRG includes family representatives from family forums run by the Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow CDNTs. 
• The family forums are a platform for sharing information with families on: service provision, governance and access; community supports; and other relevant topics of interest.
• The Forums also facilitate networking and knowledge sharing amongst families. 

How do you get involved?

The family forum is open to families who are receiving or are waiting to receive services from their CDNT. Upcoming Family Forum dates will be advertised in our Events section.

If you would like to become more involved, you can nominate yourself to stand for election as a family representative. More information on the role and when elections are taking place will be shared with families by their CDNTs.

For more information on your local family forum, contact your CDNT.