Crisis Pregnancy Agency announces senior appointments
Established under statute, in October 2001, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency has been mandated to prepare a national strategy to address crisis pregnancy and oversee its implementation. Today (26th), the Board of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency has announced the appointment of Ms Sharon Foley, as Director of the Agency. Sharon has held a number of senior posts within the health service, the most recent of which was as Director of Health Promotion with the East Coast Area Health Board. Previously Sharon worked as Regional Health Promotion Manager with the Midland Health Board where she specialised in women’s health issues relating to sexual health promotion and family planning programmes. She holds an MA in Health Promotion and an MSc in Nutrition.
Caroline Spillane has been appointed as the Agency’s Programmes and Communications Manager and will be responsible for many of the operational programmes of the Agency. Caroline joins from the National Safety Council where she was responsible for Communications and Media Relations. She has previously held positions with Murray Consultants, RTE and the youth work organisation Foróige. Caroline is a graduate of NUI Cork and holds an MA from the Dublin Institute of Technology.
Patsy Carr has been appointed as the Agency’s Administration Manager and will oversee its financial and administrative activities. Patsy has held various positions within the Department of Health and Children most recently in the Heart Health and Health Promotion Unit. Previously she was secretary to the Cardio Vascular Health Strategy Group and then to the National Heart Health Task Force and prior to that was the Press Officer for the Department of Heath.
The post of Research Officer has been filled by Stephanie O’Keeffe. Currently finalising her PhD from the University of Surrey, Stephanie will be involved in initiating, developing and evaluating the Agency’s research projects and activities.
The Board of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency is Chaired by Olive Braiden and its members are Rosemary Grant, Linda Hogan, Martin Larkin, Geraldine Luddy, Pauline Moreau, Brian Mullen, Anthony O’Gorman and Margaret Ryan.
The Agency has already commenced a consultative process for the development of an overall strategy and is at present reviewing funding submissions from existing bodies and organisations. A review of available services – including counselling, a major research project and a national information campaign on crisis pregnancy services will be put in place this autumn.
The Minister for Health and Children, Micheal Martin TD, has announced the establishment of a Consultative Committee to advise the Agency in relation to matters pertaining to crisis pregnancy. Chaired by a member of the Agency, the Committee will be made up of individuals representing the following bodies and interest groups:
Pregnancy counselling services, Adoption Services, Providers of family planning/sexual health services, General Practitioner, National Parents’ Council, Joint managerial body of Post Primary Schools, National Youth Council, Treoir, Gynaecologist/Obstetrician, Health promotion specialist, Health Boards CEO/management representative, Legal profession, Disability groups, Midwifery, Non Nationals, Psychologist, Trade Union movement, Travellers, Catholic Bishops of Ireland, Church of Ireland Bishops.
For further information please contact Olive Braiden, Chairperson,
Crisis Pregnancy Agency. Mobile: 086 822 14 76
