The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) (formerly the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs), the National Children’s Strategy Implementation Group (NCSIG) and the Children’s Services Committees (CSCs) have been leading an initiative to develop and implement a planning model for national and local interagency working to improve outcomes for children.

In response, a Toolkit for the Development of a Committee (2009) was developed, which set out a 6-stage framework to assist CSCs in the setting-up process. Since the publication of that toolkit, there has been much progress in the development of the Working Together for Children initiative, for example, in the areas of governance, communications and preparing a Children and Young People’s Plan. Thus, this 2nd edition of the CSC Toolkit has been updated to reflect these developments. It will assist not only those in the early stages of setting up a CSC, but also those who are considering setting up a CSC.