About CARI Foundation
The CARI Foundation is a registered charitable organisation, established in 1989, to deliver professional, child-centred therapy and support services to children, families, and groups affected by child sexual abuse. It also provides specialised therapeutic intervention for children under the age of 12 who exhibit sexually harmful behaviours.
CARI operates service centres in Dublin, Limerick, and a Southeast Outreach Centre located in Wexford. These centres offer safe environments where the unique needs of children and their families are met. The organisation is committed to tailoring its responses to address each child’s specific trauma and its broader impact on their family unit.
Child Therapy
CARI offers therapeutic services to children under the age of 12 presenting with sexually harmful behaviours. These interventions provide a secure and supportive environment where children can articulate and explore their emotions, enabling them to process and understand their experiences effectively.
Therapy is child-led and designed to proceed at a pace determined by the individual needs of the child. Some children may prefer verbal expression, while others engage in creative activities such as painting, clay, or toys to process their emotions and develop constructive coping mechanisms. Therapy sessions are typically conducted weekly and are available for as long as necessary.
Laura Long, Account Executive, HSF Health Plan, presenting a grant of €4,000 to Emer O’Neill, CEO, CARI Foundation.
Parental Support
Recognising the profound impact of child sexual abuse on families, CARI extends its services to the non-abusing parents, siblings, and, where appropriate, extended family members of affected children. The organisation is aware of the importance of holistic family support in facilitating a child’s recovery. While children are engaged in therapeutic programmes, their parents or carers are offered parallel support sessions. These sessions provide a confidential outlet for discussing fears and concerns, equipping parents with the language, skills, and strategies necessary to support their child’s healing journey in daily life.
The Grant
The Hospital Saturday Fund awarded a grant of €4,000 to the CARI Foundation. This funding will support the development and implementation of advanced measurement tools designed to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of CARI’s services. These tools will enhance the organisation’s ability to serve its clients and their families more effectively.
To find out more visit
www.cari.ie/
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