Those with Care Experience, Academics, Professionals and many others will explore and recommend how we, as a society, can ensure better, more equitable outcomes for the children and young people who come through our care system.

This series of webinars will seek to provide participants with an overview of the unique issues facing care experienced children and young people in terms of LGBTI+, Ethnicity, Education, Disability, Accommodation and Justice.

Coming out as LGBTI+ or transitioning at any time can be challenging. Coming out as LGBTI+ or transitioning as a young person in care can add to this challenge.

After extensive consultation with care-experienced young people, EPIC and our project partners BeLong To we have created 2 leaflets and a short animation video as part of a project funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs that we are delighted to be launching during this webinar.

These leaflets and animation video will outline some of the potential challenges, highlight supports that can make the 'coming out' process less daunting and also raise awareness of the often harmful effects that being outed can have on a young person’s mental health and on the relationship building process.

EPIC Youth Council Members directly involved in the planning and execution of these resources will share some insights from their own experiences in care. This session will close with a live Q&A that will include Moninne Griffith, CEO of BeLonG To, Vanessa Lacey, Health and Education Manager with TENI- Transgender Equality Network Ireland and Thomas Dunning, Principal Social Worker (Tusla) with the team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum.

Speaker/Contributor Bios:

Dillon Nolan

Dillon is a student social worker with care experience and activist working on the EPIC Youth Council to help improve standards and rights for young people in care and leaving care.

Siobhán Wilson

Siobhán is an Lgbt+ care experienced student, studying to become a social care worker. Siobhán has been part of the EPIC Youth Council concert September 2019

Moninne Griffith, CEO of BeLonG To LGBT Youth Services

Moninne is a passionate social activist with over 20 years’ experience in the fields of advocacy, law and social justice. Today, she leads BeLonG To Youth Services, Ireland’s national organisation for LGBT+ young people. As Executive Director, she is dedicated to supporting and empowering LGBT+ youth, and achieving a world where they are equal, safe and valued in the diversity of their identities and experiences.

After spending 8 years as Director of Marriage Equality, a single-issue organisation working for, and historically achieving, equality for same-sex couples in Ireland, Moninne is acutely aware of the needs and challenges of the LGBT+ community in Ireland today.

Moninne was Chair of the Government’s Gender Recognition Act Review Group and was also a member of their LGBTI+ Youth Strategy oversight committee. Moninne was also a member of the Government’s Taskforce on Youth Mental Health and is a former Chairperson of the National Women’s Council of Ireland.

Moninne worked as a solicitor in general practice for a decade and holds a Bachelor of Civil Law and a MA in Women’s Studies from University College Dublin.

Vanessa Lacey, Health and Education Manager, Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI)

Vanessa is TENI’s Health and Education Manager and has been part of the organisation since 2010. In her role, Vanessa designs and delivers awareness training and Gender Identity Skills Training (GIST) for healthcare professionals throughout Ireland. In 2011, she created the family support group, TransParenCI, which continues to support families around the country. Vanessa has a BA in Psychology and was recently awarded her PhD which focused on grief and loss experienced by trans women and their families. She has made several media appearances in relation to her work and contributes to academic papers. Vanessa is a registered member of WPATH and sits on various HSE and Tusla committees at both national and regional level. Vanessa is also the current Chairperson of TransParenCI.

Thomas Dunning, Principal Social Worker, Separated Children Seeking Asylum /EU Relief Projects, Túsla

Thomas Dunning is the Principal Social Worker of the Tusla Child and Family Agency’s Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum, and was the clinical and logistical coordinator of Ireland’s Calais Special Project to bring unaccompanied minors (UAMs) from Calais to Ireland as programme refugees. Thomas qualified in Chicago, USA where he worked in the areas of mental health, alcohol and other drug abuse, HIV prevention and LGBT health promotion. He has been a social worker for 31 years; the last 16 of which have been specific to working with children in migration, unaccompanied minors and on family reunification. He has participated in many EASO (European Asylum Support Office) expert working groups on Unaccompanied Minors and has presented the Irish Model of Care and Protection for Unaccompanied Children throughout Europe.

Please note, these webinars are aimed at ages 16+