Cura Annual Conference 2002

20 Feb 2002

Cura Annual Conference 2002

“Competence in Pregnancy Counselling: Cura’s Responsibility” is the theme of the 25th Cura Annual Conference, at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Letterkenny from the 22nd – 24th February 2002.

This year Cura celebrates the 25th anniversary of its foundation as a pregnancy counselling organisation. Since its inception in 1977, Cura has grown and developed and today more than 400 volunteer counsellors in 17 regional centres provide the Cura service nationwide.

Mairead Curran, Cura’s National Co-ordinator comments: “Competence in Pregnancy Counselling: Cura’s Responsibility the theme for the Conference will help us reflect on our responsibility as pregnancy counsellors. The focus of the theme is to explore the necessity and value of working within boundaries and limits and to ensure that best practice and ethical standards are maintained throughout.”

Cura was established by the Irish Bishop’s Conference in 1977 and from it’s modest beginnings 25 years ago, has met with many challenges and has responded to the changing needs of our society. Nonetheless, Cura remains true to the purposes for which it was established – “to ensure that every woman who is unhappily pregnant has immediate and easy access to the help which she needs”.

The high standards achieved by Cura have been acknowledged by an independent evaluation of the organisation which was carried out last year, which states that: ” Cura is a highly professional organisation”, “has an excellent initial volunteer training programme that could be used as a model for similar services” and “provides an invaluable service to the community”.

Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., Minister of State, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, will officially open the conference. Speakers will include the President of Cura, Dr. Colm O’Reilly, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Mr. Peter Dorai – Raj, Clinical Psychologist, and Dr. Philip Boyce, Bishop of Raphoe. The Cura Annual Report for 2001 will be launched at the Conference.

The Cura Helpline, 1850 622 626 is open from 9.30am – 9.00pm Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays.

20 February 2002

ENDS

Further information:
Ms Mairead Curran
Tel: 087243 9340
Cura Website: www.cura.ie