The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is working with the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) and the Centre for Effective Services to develop the What Works Ireland Evidence Hub of prevention and early intervention programmes. The Evidence Hub will be an online tool designed to increase access to effective prevention and early intervention programmes by making the best evidence on what works available to decision-makers, policy-makers, commissioners and other audiences.

The Evidence Hub will launch with over 100 programmes included on it. These are programmes that have evidence of improving child outcomes from scientific studies investigating their impact, and that have already been assessed by the Early Intervention Foundation for their online Guidebook. We are planning on adding information on 10 additional programmes to the Hub, focusing on programmes that are being delivered in Ireland. The evidence for these programmes will be assessed using the Early Intervention Foundation’s standards of evidence. And click here for more information on the broader process of Programme Assessment.

Programmes that undergo assessment and receive a Level 2 rating or higher will be included on the Evidence Hub. In addition to providing information on the strength of the evidence of an intervention, information will also be provided about key programme characteristics, including who the programme is designed for, how it is delivered, implementation requirements, key components of the programme, and a cost rating. Programme developers, providers, or researchers who are interested in having their programme(s) included on the What Works Ireland Evidence Hub are now welcome to submit an expression of interest. Below we provide information on the process involved in selecting the programmes that will undergo assessment.

Please note that all applicants who are selected for assessment will be required to consent to and comply with our Terms of Reference before detailed assessment begins. These will be shared with selected applicants before the assessment process begins. Please also note that programmes included on the Evidence Hub will also be included on the Early Intervention Foundation’s Guidebook.

Expression of interest period: September to 8th November 2022