Guidance

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Resources

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Guidance for Children and Young People

Advice about sexting

Sexting is when you send or receive a message, photo or video that has sexual content in it. This might be words, pictures, or videos, including nude pictures or videos.

Barnardos Heart, Body, and Mind

Mindfulness and Wellbeing activities during times of stress or worry.

Changing Futures

Website for young people made by young people with experience of Tusla services.

Child Ombudsman

Human rights institution and work to protect the rights of children and young people in Ireland.

Childline

Childline is a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything.

Children’s Rights Alliance

Changing the lives of all children in Ireland by making sure their rights are respected and protected in our laws, policies and services

SpunOut.ie

Spunout is Ireland’s youth information and support platform, working towards an Ireland where all young people are supported and empowered to thrive.

Stop IT Now UK/Ireland:

This site has a prevention aspect for those, including young people, who may self-identify a sexual interest in children and contains very useful resources.

Talk Pants With Pantosaurus

NSPCC: Learn All About Pants with Pantosaurus!

Talk PANTS with Pantosaurus and his PANTS song

Video/Song: Meet Pantosaurus – our pant-wearing Dino! He wants every child to stay safe and strong, just like him, and he’s on a mission to share an important message

What Happened to Elephant

A story of help and hope for children and their families

What Happened to LJ

A story of help and hope for children and their families

Guidance for Parent or Caregivers

Stop IT Now UK/Ireland:

This site has a prevention aspect for those, including young people, who may self-identify a sexual interest in children and contains very useful resources.

Talk PANTS is a simple way

Talk PANTS is a simple way to teach a child how to stay safe from abuse.

The Alders Unit

The Alders Unit work with children, young people and families where there is a concern about sexual abuse.

Therapy & Support for Children affected by Child Sexual Abuse

CARI (Children at Risk in Ireland) provides child-centred therapy for children & adolescents who have been affected by sexual abuse.

Webwise

An Irish online safety website that provides information, advice, and resources for schools, families, and young people.

What is child sexual abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when a child is used by another person for his or her gratification or arousal, or for that of others.

Guidance for Professionals

Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse

Guides to responding to inappropriate, problematic and abusive behaviour

Healthy sexuality and relationship development

The education and support needs of children and young people in care. A Toolkit for Practitioners

Signs and Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse often covers a wide spectrum of abusive activities. It rarely involves just a single incident and usually occurs over a number of years.

Definition of Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when a child is used by another person for his or her gratification or arousal, or for that of others.

Barnahus Network

Making justice, protection, and care systems work in the best interests of child victims of violence.

Council of Europe

Supporting the Implementation of Barnahus Ireland

HSElanD Barnahus

An Introduction
Available soon

How to Access Barnahus

Barnahus accepts referrals from the partner agencies involved in Barnahus: Tusla, An Garda Síochána, HSE/SATU (forensic medical services) and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) (forensic medical services and therapy services).

If any of these agencies become aware of a concern of child sexual abuse, they will talk to the family and refer to Barnahus.

These agencies must also report the concern to Tusla.

The Barnahus Centre Locations Map

Identify your nearest Barnahus Site

Barnahus West Address and Contact Information:

Faustina House, IDA Small Business Centre, Tuam Road, Galway H91 VW84.

We will inform you should our services require visits to other locations across the Barnahus West region.

Barnahus South Address and Contact Information:

Barnahus South is currently located at St. Finbarr's Hospital, Douglas Road, Cork, Ireland, T12 XH60.

We will inform you should our services require visits to other locations across the Barnahus South region.

Barnahus East Address and Contact Information:

Coming soon

Barnahus East will be located predominantly across CHI Tallaght and CHI Connolly in Dublin.

We will inform you should our services require visits to other locations across the Barnahus East region

Video Tour Through Centres

Data Protection Notice

Barnahus is committed to protecting the personal data of children and young people using our services, which is processed to provide integrated support in response to child sexual abuse concerns. The data collected includes identity, family, health and information relating to child sexual abuse, and, if needed, other personal details such as education, professional, legal, or religious and ethnic information, and it may be shared with Tusla, AGS, HSE, CHI and other relevant parties. For more information, visit tusla.ie.

Concerned
About a Child?

If you have a child protection concern, please refer to the Tusla website.

If you or a child is in immediate danger, please call 112 or 999.

This website may contain links to external sites not maintained by Barnahus. We do not guarantee the accuracy of information on these external sites.

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