Human Rights, Equality and One-Parent Families

One Family will host a seminar exploring the experiences of one-parent families who access public services. The seminar will examine how the Public Sector Human Rights and Equality Duty can prevent discrimination and protect human rights. Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Sinéad Gibney, will launch two new evidence-based guidelines, one for parents and one for the public sector, aimed at improving the experiences of people in one-parent families when interacting with public services.

As well as a presentation on the participatory research underpinning the guidelines, the seminar will also hear from parents about their experiences and what they believe should happen next.

One Family will outline policy recommendations stemming from the research and give an overview of both guidelines – the first designed as an informative and practical tool for parents to use when navigating public services and the second to serve as a resource for anyone working in the public sector implementing the Public Sector Human Rights and Equality Duty.

In-Person Parenting Courses

In-Person Courses for Parents

One Family are delighted to partner with Ozanam House, Community Centre (SVP) to offer in-person group-based parenting courses in Autumn 2022. All courses are free and open to all parents. They will run over 6 weeks and parents will be invited to attend two online guest sessions during the term.

Learn More

Policy and Media

Submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice

One Family made a submission on the enforcement of court orders relating to child maintenance, access and custody, at the request of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice.

The Committee was particularly interested in hearing about the effectiveness of court orders in child maintenance cases and their impact on families.

In our submission we:

Outlined the issues for families, including the lack of enforcement of court orders for child maintenance, the time and financial cost associated with court orders, and the impact unpaid maintenance has on families.

Our central recommendation to the Committee is that:

Ireland desperately needs an evidence-based, properly resourced child maintenance system that has responsibility for regulating, administering and enforcing child maintenance, and removes the need for families to go to court.

Read the Full Submission Here

Important Information for Anyone Accessing HAP

Changes to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) came into place on July 9th. These changes may increase the amount of HAP you are entitled to and may reduce your top up payment to your landlord.

Previously, councils could offer a discretionary rate 20% higher than the threshold rate for your area; this has now been increased to 35%. Unfortunately, any additional money you may be due will not automatically be given to you and you may have to request a rent review.

Councils are reporting large delays in rent reviews, but any payment due to you will be backdated to your date of application, so it is important you act as soon as possible. For a fact sheet on this please click here and to request a rent review click here.

Issues facing one-parent families have been prominent in the media with One Family and other NGOs advocating on behalf of families. Please see below a selection of stories from the month:

Radio and News Articles

FIND US

CONTACT DETAILS

One Family, 8 Coke Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7.
t: +353 1 662 9212 | e: info@onefamily.ie
askonefamily lo-call helpline: 1890 662 212
Contact Us | Find Us on Google Maps
website: www.onefamily.ie

Trading as One Family, Cherish CLG is a company limited by guarantee not having a share capital, registered in Dublin, Ireland with registered office at 8 Coke Lane, Dublin 7 and registered Company Number 45364. One Family is also a charity (Charity Regulatory Authority No. 20012212 and Charity No. 6525).

Directors of One Family: Helen Hall, Jennifer Good, Nuala Haughey, Eimear Fisher, Jack Eustace, Donagh McGowan, Rosemary Wokocha and John Bohan.

Copyright © 2022 One Family, All rights reserved.

Why am I getting this email?
You are receiving this email as you signed up to One Family's mailing list or had previous communication with us. If you'd prefer not to receive it, please click on the link below to unsubscribe.

You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.