Parent programmes

We have been commissioned by the Public Health Agency (PHA) to provide strategic support for parent programmes in Northern Ireland that are designed to improve children’s social, emotional and behavioural skills and school readiness.

invest in play® (iiP) is an international, not-for-profit organisation with a mission to support children and their caregivers using practical and compassionate strategies which have been proven to work over many decades. iiP have co-created our parent and teacher programmes with local communities to provide the most current and culturally appropriate, evidence-based interventions to support parents and other caregivers around the world. The iiP Core Parent Programme, Six Bricks for Kids model, outlines research-based strategies that help caregivers build a strong foundation for their child’s life.

At Incredible Years, our goal is to provide cost-effective, developmentally appropriate early intervention programs that empower families and teachers of young children (0-12 years old). We believe in promoting social-emotional learning, academic competence, and child well-being. Incredible Years (IY) act on the belief that a child is the most precious of all human beings, and the ability to withstand the emotional and social challenges as a teenager rests upon a caring relationship between parent, teacher, and child. IY's mission is to advance the social, emotional, and academic success of children of all ethnic groups, through a series of interlocking parent, teacher, and child programs supported by more than forty years of clinically proven worldwide research.

Parents Plus is a charity on a mission to strengthen families and achieve the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and parents. Since 1995, Parents Plus has developed eight programmes for services that adapt to diverse family needs. The programmes offer universal support for all families, preventative solutions for disadvantaged and at-risk families, and targeted interventions for high-need families facing complex challenges. Our approach embeds evidence-based practices in services, equips teams with solution-focused practice skills, reduces waiting lists, and improves parent engagement. The programmes create lasting, positive outcomes for families, communities, and services. All building the capacity of community, mental health, disability, and education services in Ireland and the UK.

Togetherness (Formerly known as The Solihull Approach) is an NHS emotional health team sharing evidence-based teaching and learning about emotional wellbeing and preventative mental health in the UK and around the world. Togetherness equips people with lifelong skills that build emotional resilience and wellbeing, by helping foster robust relationships and connections that transform how we communicate and interact with others. Its approach offers practical and accessible support for people across all walks of life.

In your HSC Trust Area the Child Development Intervention Coordinator (CDIC) supports evidence-based parent programmes. See contact details below.

Belfast – Marie McAuley ([email protected])
Northern – Kate McDermott ([email protected])
South Eastern – Amanda Armstrong ([email protected])
Southern - Martina McCooey ([email protected])
Western – Lisa Storey ([email protected])

Neurodiversity Focused Parent Programme Showcase 2026

Hear from evidence-based parent programmes and the practitioners who deliver them locally in NI, with a specific focus on supporting neurodiverse children and families. The programmes included are:

Incredible Years
Parents Plus
Togetherness (previously known as the Solihull Approach); and
Invest in Play