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• A new peer‑reviewed article has been published today in Child Abuse Review, highlighting the important contribution to the growing field of trauma‑informed practice within child welfare systems the TARA Project has made.

  The study, titled “Child Welfare Professional Education in Trauma‑Informed Care: A Mixed‑Methods Evaluation Study”, is authored by Maria Lotty, Margarita Frederico, Noreen Kearns, and Tadgh O’Shea and appears in Child Abuse Review, Volume 35, Issue 1 (Article e70101), available at:

  A Significant Step Forward for the Child Welfare Workforce

  This newly released research evaluates an educational programme designed to strengthen trauma‑informed knowledge and practice among child welfare professionals. Grounded in a mixed‑methods approach, the study explores how university professional education can enhance practitioners’ capacity to understand, respond to, and support children and families affected by trauma.

   

• The Practice Initiatives Showcase Event in the DSC area

  12 Dec 2025
  

  On Dec. 12th, 2025 in Dublin the TARA Project, a research partnership between Dublin South Central (DSC), TUSLA (Child and Family Agency) and ÉîÒ¹ÑÇÖÞ¸£Àû¾Ã¾Ã College Cork, celebrted a major milestone with The Practice Initiatives Showcase Event held in the DSC area.

  TARA Project Showcases Trauma-Informed Practice Initiatives in Dublin South Central | ÉîÒ¹ÑÇÖÞ¸£Àû¾Ã¾Ã College Cork

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• 10th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference

  24 Oct 2025
  

  On the 24^th of October 2025 Dr Maria Lotty (UCC), Lisa McCormack (TUSLA), Niamh Campbell (TUSLA) and Dylan Stanley (TUSLA) presented at the 10th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference, which took place in UCC

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• Research Dialogue Seminar – Crossing Disciplines and Specialisms

  28 Feb 2025
  

  On 28 Feb 2025, Maria Lotty and Aoife Price presented and sought feedback from discussants, including Róisín O'Gorman (Theatre, UCC), Michelle Bergin (Occupational Therapy, UCC), Finola McCarthy (ACE, UCC), Sheena McHugh (Epidemiology and Public Health, UCC). The presentation titled 'Transforming Child Welfare Practices: Exploring Co-creation methodological approaches for the TARA Project, Phase 2' centred around the ongoing work regarding the methodological approach and framework guiding the study. Click read more for a summary of the discussion and feedback gathered on the day. 

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• Parchment ceremony for the graduates

  12 Feb 2024
  

  On February 12th 2024 a parchment ceremony for the graduates of the CPD in Trauma-informed Care Programme took place in the Aula Maxima, UCC. A total of 35 graduates from across the Dublin South Central Area of TUSLA Child and Family Agency were awarded a Certificate in Continuing Professional Development in Trauma-informed Care: Theory and Practice. The graduates represented a range of disciplines including: Social Work, Social Care, and Family Support, and are currently working across a diverse level of responsibilities including frontline practitioner, middle and senior management roles. 

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A selection of images from the TARA parchment ceremony

• A new peer‑reviewed article has been published in Child Protection and Practice  - Building capacity for Barnahus Ireland: Development of Trauma-informed care, Child advocacy and Participation training for professionals,  authored by Dr Maria Lotty, Blathanid McCabe, Dr Rosaleen McElvaney and Eimear Lacey.

  Available at:

TARA Awards 2024