Dr. Carmel Devaney

Carmel Devaney joined the Child and Family Research Centre in April 2007 as a Researcher and Course Coordinator of the Higher Diploma/ Master Degree in Family Support Studies. Carmel holds a BA in Social Studies (DIT) and MA in Family Support Studies (NUI Galway). At a practice level Carmel has worked for many years in children and family services and as Manager of a Springboard Family Support Service. Carmel has researched in the area of children and families service provision and has published in the area of suicide prevention and family support.

Carmel has a particular interest in the development of Family Support as an approach to working with children and families and on the impact of associated postgraduate training on practice. Carmel is currently undertaking a PhD on this area at NUI Galway.

Ph.D. awarded, 15th July 2011

Thesis title: Family Support as an Approach to Working with Children and Families in Ireland: An Explorative Study of Past and Present Perspectives Among Pioneers and Practitioners.

Selected Publications

Books

Devaney, C. (2011) Family Support as an Approach to Working with Children and Families. An Explorative Study of Past and Present Perspectives among Pioneers and Practitioners. Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing.

Journal Articles

Devaney, C. and Kearns, N. (2010) (eds.) Family Support Services. Administration, Vol. 58, No. 2.

Devaney, C. and Kearns, N. (2010) Family Support Now: Reflecting on Contemporary Challenges. Administration, Vol. 58, No. 2, pp. 1-14.

Devaney, C. and Smith, M. (2010) Family Support and Child Protection: Natural Bedfellows. Practice, Vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 103-114.

Reports

Forkan, C., Canavan, J., Dolan, P., Bradley, C., Brady, B., Carty, C., Coen, L., Devaney, C., Kearns, N., Kenny, A., Merriman, B. and O’Regan, C. (2010) Youth Cafés in Ireland: A Best Practice Guide, Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Dublin: The Stationary Office.

Forkan, C., Canavan, J., Devaney, C. and Dolan, P. (2010) Youth Café Toolkit. How to Set-up and Run a Youth Café in Ireland, Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Dublin: The Stationary Office.

Devaney, C. Kearns, N. (2008) The Development of a Report on the Evaluability of Youngballymun, in collaboration with Children’s Research Centre, Trinity College: Dublin.

Selected Conferences

Kearns, N. and Devaney, C. (2011) An Exploratory Study of Volunteering Among Older Adults on an Intergenerational Reading Programme. International Conference on Assets for Health and Wellbeing across the life course. British Library Conference Centre, London, 26th-27th September 2011.

Devaney, C. (2011) A Family Support Approach to Protecting Children: Current Issues and Perspectives. International Conference on Family Support, NUI Galway, June, 2011.

Devaney, C. (2010) Family Support to Realise Children and Family’s Strengths, presented at The 6th Australian Family & Community Strengths Conference, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, December 2010.

Devaney, C. (2009) Blue Line on the Horizon; Family Support in Ireland, Britain and the USA, (Plenary session), American Conference for Irish Studies, NUI, Galway, June 2009.