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Project Team and Steering Group
In addition to the Study Team there are a network of bodies and groups who feed into the study. The Study Team reports to an inter-departmental Project Team which is chaired by Dr Sinead Hanafin of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The Project Team in turn reports to the Steering Group, chaired by Mary Doyle, Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
Scientific and Policy Advisory Committee
The study receives input from the Scientific and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC). This non-executive group is made up of a multi-disciplinary team of ten people who provide scientific and policy advice on the content and best practice of the design, implementation and roll-out of the study.
Children’s Advisory Forum
The Children’s Advisory Forum (CAF) was set up to make sure the voices of children are heard within the study, particularly for the older cohort. The role of the CAF is to advise on how best to run the study and to make sure the views and opinions of children are included in the decision-making process. For example, the children of the CAF provided feedback on the project logo and on the suitability of the child questionnaires and information sheets. The CAF is made up of 84 children who sit on 12 committees in schools across Ireland. Seven boys and girls sit on each committee. The schools in which these committees sit are spread across several regions including Limerick, Cork, Westmeath, Dublin and Wicklow. These regions were chosen in order to represent all types of schools and communities.
Delphi Process
The Delphi Process forms a further layer of the consultation process. The Delphi panel is made up of policy experts and service providers who provide feedback in relation to the issues which they see as important for the study to investigate. This valuable information was used in the development of the questionnaires for both cohorts.
Ethics Board
Ethical approval for the quantitative part of Wave 1 of the 9-year cohort was sought, and given, following extensive consultation from the Heath Research Board’s Research Ethics Committee. A dedicated NLSCI (Growing Up in Ireland) Research Ethics Committee has been established by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to oversee the 9-month study, and subsequent waves in both cohorts.
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