Welcome to Our Website

 What is the CARI Foundation?

The CARI Foundation is a registered charity founded in 1989. Our primary aim is to provide a professional, child centred therapy and counselling service to children, families, and groups who have been affected by child sexual abuse.

Alongside this we aim to provide the most up to date education and information service for children, adults and professionals on the dynamics of child sexual abuse, and, moreover, to raise public and political awareness of these issues. As a non-governmental organisation we operate on a not-for-profit basis ensuring that our services are accessible, regardless of a client's means or situation.

What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is when someone involves a child or young person in sexual talk, touching or other activity. The child or young person might not fully understand what's happening, they may not know what to do and they may find it scary or confusing.

CARI is seeking to ensure that everyone who may need their services, wherever they live, is aware of CARI and able to take advantage of the information, advice and therapy offered. We will also aim to guarantee that we have in place sufficient resources nationwide to meet the demand that this increased awareness will promote.

What to do:
If you are affected by sexual abuse

If someone is abusing you, you may feel...

    * It's hard to talk about it
    * You don't trust people
    * You don't feel safe
    * It's hard to make friends
    * School is difficult
    * Mixed up, muddled, confused
    * Guilty
    * Dirty
    * Low or depressed

Or... you may not know how you feel

What can you do?
You can try to tell someone in your family.
You can try to tell an adult you can trust and with whom you feel safe. This could be a relation, a neighbour, a teacher.

Or...
You can phone the CARI Helpline and talk to someone who will listen to you and help you to make the next step.

Cari will listen to you, and help you.
Our number is 1890-924567 (Mon - Fri 9:30am - 5:30pm)

If your friend has told you that this is happening to them, listen to them and encourage them to tell an adult that will be able to help them. Let your friend know about CARI and give them our number or website address www.cari.ie

Remember...
- What happened was wrong. It was not your fault.
What to do:
If someone confides in me

1. What should I do?
There are a number of key things that you can do:

    * Believe the person and take what they say seriously.
    * Listen to what he or she is saying - you may be the first person they've told.
    * Offer to support them in whatever they decide to do.
    * Give the person time and do not judge them - they are not at fault.
    * If the person is a child use the same language as the child uses to describe the experience.
    * Try not to judge the abuser or talk about punishment for him or her unless this is initiated by the person speaking to you.
    * Try not to ask probing questions - let the person set the pace and stop talking when they need to.
    * Try not to make any promises you cannot keep but assure the person that they have your support.
    * Let the person know what you are going to do and, as far as possible, what is going to happen next.
    * Let the person know that they were right to tell you. Finish on a positive note.
    * Get some support for yourself by calling CARI on 1890 924567 ( Monday to Friday 0930 - 1730)

2. What should I do if I suspect a child is being sexually abused?
Help is available from different organisations. Be aware that at this time you have no legal obligation to do anything. However, if you feel confident and have a genuine reason to be concerned about the safety of a child, taking action could prevent abuse continuing and could protect other children at risk.

The Child Care Manager in each Health Board Area has the statutory responsibility for all cases of child sexual abuse. You can contact your local Social Work Team and let them know of your concerns. The Duty Social Worker will want to know your reasons for suspecting that a child is being sexually abused. The Social Worker will also request your name but she will try to keep it confidential. The Social Worker will investigate the situation and take action if necessary. You can get details of your Local Community Care Social Work Team by calling, free phone, 1800 520 520.

The Gardaí also have a statutory role in the protection of children. If you are concerned that a child is in immediate danger, and you are unable to contact a Social Worker, you can contact your local Garda Station.

3. Why is it difficult for children to tell about abuse?
There are a number of reasons:

    * Being a child

      Simply because of age, children may lack the knowledge, maturity and sometimes even the language to describe traumatic experiences.

    * Child's view of the world

The world of a child is by nature self-centred, causing them to feel responsible for their experiences.
    * Fear of consequences

      A child who is being abused may believe that by telling they will make their situation worse.
    * Protecting the family

      Children often try to protect other family members both from abuse and information they feel will upset them.
    * Attachment to the abuser

      Children need to form attachments in order to survive. They may become attached to, and care about, a person who may hurt or abuse them.
    * Fear of rejection

      Children can fear losing the affection of both the abuser and others.
    * Learned helplessness

      When children believe that they have no control over a situation they learn to behave helplessly. They may continue to behave helplessly even if an opportunity for escape or change presents itself.
    * Fear of the abuser and the abuser's threats

      Believing the abuser's threats can be enough to silence a child.
    * Obedience

      Children are taught to obey adults and they may have been told by their abuser not to tell.
    * Not knowing who or how to tell

      Fear of getting themselves into trouble and the fear of not being believed can be very real for a child.

4. Do children lie about sexual abuse?
Very rarely!
Sexually abused children have been known to deny, minimize, "forget", and confuse, but they rarely lie.

Children do not automatically report the way adults do. Their reports vary at different ages. For example, a very young child might not have the vocabulary or concept to express an abusive act correctly. Differences and inconsistencies in memories might initially appear as "lies"; but they are not.

There is no way a child can depict explicitly the details of sexual acts performed on him or her unless the child has experienced it; his or her life does not typically involve exposure to such material.
 
  
 

  Helpline

Since its first full year of operation in 2001 the CARI Helpline has provided an invaluable public service. Callers are able to explore concerns, feelings and fears regarding child sexual abuse in safety and anonymity. Through the Helpline people can also access other CARI services, receive parenting information and advice, or even just find someone to talk to.

CARI is a member of the Telephone Helplines Association (THA). THA works with Helplines to achieve the highest quality response to all those seeking information advise and help via the telephone.

Who calls CARI and why?

In previous years the single largest category of callers were mothers calling to discuss concerns ranging from worries about a child, to coping with the disclosures of abuse.

Adult survivors are the next largest group mainly due to the impact of the events and developments in the media and courts recently.

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of teenagers contacting the Helpline directly, perhaps as a result of our increasing profile.

A significant number of calls are silent or distressed. In these cases there may be tears with no words audible. We use this contact to reassure and affirm the person for the contact and view these calls as important as all other Helpline calls.

We also received calls from fathers, relatives, friends as well as social workers, teachers and other professionals.
Ongoing training for Helpline Staff

Our Helpline Operators are trained in counselling with some holding relevant primary degrees. Our team of psychologists and psychotherapists also provide in house training on an ongoing basis.

Other Helpline training includes; ‘Child Protection Issues’ provided by the Health Board & Social Workers, ‘Child Sexual Abuse Assessment Procedures’ provided by the Child Sexual Assessment Team from St Clare’s Unit, Temple Street, and ‘The role of the Guards in child protection issues’ provided by D.V.S.A.I.U. Harcourt Square.

We also have training and information days from N.I.A.P., Granada Institute, Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Centre, hotline (supervising the Internet), Drugs/H.I.V, Cherry Orchard Hospital and the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit.

Therapy Service

We provide therapy for children and young people whose lives have been disrupted by experiences, exposure to, or allegations of sexual violence. CARI also provides services for adults caring for these children and young people, and any adults with child protection concerns. The children we see may or may not have actually experienced sexual abuse. They will, however, have been affected by alleged sexual abuse in some way.

Pre-therapy Considerations
Appropriate child protection measures should be in place prior to referral to ensure that the child is free from any known risks. The consent of a legal guardian is needed for the child to attend CARI. We operate a policy of requiring parental consent to a child's therapy. We seek the consent of the parent/s with whom the child ordinarily resides. Our preference is to have consent from both parents/guardians. However, while we can advise the main custodial parent to inform and seek consent from the 2nd parent, we do not make this a condition of providing therapy sessions for the child. In the case of a child who is the subject of a care order, giving the health board guardianship of the child, we require health board consent prior to engaging in therapy with the child.

Fees
We make a weekly charge for our clinical services which includes all appointments, assessment and therapy sessions. This fee is regardless of the number of sessions given to the client or client's family in a week. We encourage clients to pay full or partial fees, both as a way of valuing the therapy and acknowledging the CARI Foundation's status as an organisation dependent on a variety of income sources. The amount the client or family are able to afford will be decided with them at assessment stage. Fees will be charged for missed sessions unless 24 hours notice is given.

We acknowledge there may be those for whom even a minimal contribution may not be possible and in those cases therapy will still be provided. Our policy is to invoice the appropriate Health Board for the cost of sessions provided (average charge: €60 per session).

Criteria for Referals (Children)
We accept child referrals in respect of:

A. Children who have disclosed sexual abuse and whose disclosures have been investigated by the appropriate authorities.

B. Children who have undergone a sexual abuse investigation for any other reason (e.g. discovery of child abuse, medical injury, access by a known offender, suspicion of child sexual abuse based on behaviour or sexualised language/behaviour).

C. Siblings of the above

D. Children who have been affected by information regarding the alleged sexual abuse of another child/children and/or may have been the confidante of a disclosure (e.g. members of a group/club where child sexual abuse has been an issue, a child whose relative/family member has perpetuated sexual abuse), provided that this has been reported to the appropriate authorities.

E. Children who witness reported sexual assaults on other children or adults.

F. Children who have engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour with another child, provided that this has been reported to the appropriate authorities.

When a referral is made in relation to a child, CARI will decide whether to accept the particular referral or not. We review all information that is at our disposal to assist us in making this decision. If we feel that a gap exists in available information we try to access this from appropriate individuals or agencies.

It is especially important that all documentation relating to the assessment of allegations of sexual abuse (whether conducted by an assessment unit or another professional) is provided to us. We feel that we can make a more informed decision when we have as much information as possible on which to base it. Decisions are based on the individual circumstances of the case and our estimation of whether attending CARI at that time appears to be in the child's best interest or not.

Prior to commencing work with a child we consider the following questions:

Is the referral in respect of a child who fits into one of our potential client categories? (See A-F above)
 

• What are the relevant issues in the child's background?
• What are the child's current circumstances?
• Does the child have a supportive/protective ally?
• Are the child's basic needs being met?
• Is the child's safety and protection currently assured?
• Has a need for any other interventions (abuse investigation, medical, speech, educational assessments) been identified?
• Has an assessment of the alleged abuse been conducted?
• Is the child on the verge of a major life change?
• Is the child's situation the subject of a court case?
• Are both parents supportive of the proposed intervention?
• Who is involved in the day to day care of the child?
• What are the needs and of the child's carers?
• Have other appropriate services been identified for the child's siblings and carers, if indicated?
• Will it be possible to work closely with other professionals involved with the family?
• Are the expectations of the referrer realistic?

Once we have received the completed Referral Form and sufficient background information on the case, we will meet with the parent(s) and/or carers of the child before deciding whether we will begin seeing the child and/or other family members for therapy and support.

Criteria for Referals (Family)
In cases where a child is alleged to have been sexually abused but the assessment of the abuse has not yet been undertaken by the assessment unit or an appropriate professional, CARI can offer therapeutic support to the family. In most cases this will take the form of weekly sessions.

One of the aims of this work will be to provide the family with support in managing any anxiety (theirs and/or their child's) during the wait for an assessment. The work can also focus on enabling the family to provide therapeutic containment to their child through this period.

To avail of this service the Referral Form should be used, with as much background information as possible regarding the alleged abuse. We regret we are unable to provide therapy to the child in these cases, until the formal assessment has been undertaken.

Sometimes, even when a sexual abuse assessment has been undertaken, the family, referrer and/or CARI may decide that it is more appropriate to offer services to the child's carers either prior to or instead of offering appointments to the child. This may be particularly appropriate when pre-therapy conditions do not exist, e.g. adequate child protection measures are not in place, the parent/s are unable to support the child's therapy or have significant unmet needs of their own, (see considerations above).

In other cases the child/young person may decline to attend sessions themselves and other family members may wish to avail of the service. Referrers can choose the most appropriate referral, child and/or family, or can discuss this with CARI.

Satellite Services

While we have 2 main offices based in Dublin and Limerick we also operate a number of part time satellite services throughout the country.

Due to the increased demand, we have expanded our satellite service in Cork to twice week. Two therapists now see clients in Cork on both Mondays and Tuesdays in the Dominican Centre, Pope's Quay, Cork.