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Request an Advocate

EPIC Advocates work with care-experienced children and young people across Ireland

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EPIC’s National Advocacy Service is available to children and young people in the care of Tusla, those in aftercare services, and to children and young people with care-experience up to the age of 26*. 

This includes children and young people living in: 

  • Tusla operated and private residential care homes 
  • General or relative foster care placements 
  • Special care units 
  • Children’s detention centres  
  • And Section 5 cases 

*An exception to this is advocacy support for care-experienced people over the age of 26 who require assistance with requesting their care files under the Freedom of Information Act. 

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Before making your request, please see which option is best for you.

Request an EPIC Advocate for a one-to-one direct advocacy service

An EPIC Advocate is an independent professional who directly supports a child or young person. A request for an EPIC Advocate can be made by a child or young person themselves (self-referral) or by professionals or parents/guardians on their behalf. The advocacy work will not proceed without the consent of the child or young person it relates to.  

Please note: If you are making a request for an Advocate on behalf of more than one child or young person, you must submit a referral form for each child/young person.  

Photos of our National Advocacy Service team in a grid. Underneath, it says 'EPIC Advocates work with children in care and young care-leavers across Ireland'.

Notice

Due to a significant waiting list for our advocacy service, we are temporarily pausing referrals from professionals. This will enable us to prioritise advocacy requests received directly from children and young people until further notice.

Professionals who feel a child or young person they are working alongside needs more timely access to advocacy support can raise this with us by contacting: info@epiconline.ie.

Please be aware that current waiting times for an advocate in the Dublin region can be up to 12 weeks.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to ensure that children and young people can access advocacy support as quickly as possible.

I am under 18

Click this box to request an EPIC Advocate

I am over 18

Click this box to request an EPIC Advocate

Request an EPIC Advocate on behalf of a child (1-17yrs)

Click this box to make the request

Request an EPIC Advocate on behalf of a young person (18-26yrs)

Click this box to make the request

Request an information session

All requests are reviewed on a weekly basis. Once allocated, an EPIC Advocate will respond within two weeks to schedule a time to speak over the phone or meet in person or online. 

If you have any questions in relation to making a request for an Advocate or an information session about EPIC, or if you have any difficultly using the form or making your request, please contact us on 01 8727661 or email info@epiconline.ie.  

Have you had an EPIC Advocate?

Then we would love to hear about your experience! Feedback is anonymous, so you do not need to give any identifying details.

Advocacy Feedback Form
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