Dr Mary McCann M.Phil, PhD
Contact Details
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Biography:
Mary Ellen McCann has extensive experience in community drugs work in Dublin. Originally trained as a primary school teacher in Scotland, she subsequently trained in addiction counselling in Rutland Centre, Dublin. Following completion of a Diploma in Adult and Community Education in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, she worked in Ballymun, one of the communities most badly affected by problem drug use. Under her direction, Ballymun Youth Action Project (YAP) came to be recognised as a leader in community responses to drugs, accessing funding from a variety of sources, national and European, to develop its work. A community addiction studies centre was established, which now offers accredited courses to develop capacity in the community sector. She has been to the fore in promoting community approaches to drugs issues, and has been active at local level and at policy level. She is vice chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs. She was awarded her PhD by Dublin City University. |
Research Interests
| Community development and drugs issues; community participation in national strategies; inter-agency working. I am currently lead researcher on a piece of work investigating the experiences of community representatives on the local and regional drugs task forces in Ireland. The research team is a partnership of the University, the National Drug Strategy Team, and CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign, a civil society group. The research aims to analyse the roles of these representatives on the task forces, and consider if they actually have the possibility to contribute to long term change in community drug problems. |
Book Chapters
Mary Ellen McCann; (2008) 'Community Development and Drugs Work in Dublin' In: Piotr Salustowicz (eds). Social Policy and Social Work From an International Development Perspective. Berlin: LIT VERLAG.  [Details] |
| McCann, M.E ; (2006) 'Community Development and Social Care' In: Fanning, B & Rush, M (eds). Care and Social Change in the Irish Welfare Economy. Dublin: University College Dublin Press. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Loughran, H; McCann, M.E; (2011) 'A Case for Developing Community Drug Indicators'. Social Indicators Research, 102 (2):229-244. [Details] |
| Loughran, H. & McCann. M.E.; (2005) 'Escape From the Ivory Tower'. Professional Development The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, 8 (2-3):116-124. [Details] |
| McCann, M.H.; (2002) 'Why Addiction Counselling?'. Éisteach A Quarterly Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy Vol 2 (No 23):2-7. [Details] |
| McCann, M.H.; (1998) 'Drug services in Dublin: selective or comprehensive strategies?'. Journal of Substance Misuse Vol. 3 (No. 3):150-155. [Details] |
| McCann, M.H.; (1995) 'Counselling in a Community Setting'. Journal of the Irish Association for Counselling and Therapy Vol 1 (No 35). [Details] |
Other Journals
| McCann, Mary Ellen; (1997) 'Drugs Task Force The Same Old Fix?' Poverty Today 34 :12-12. [Details] |
| McCann, M H; (2003) 'Addiction: Complexity and confusion; challenges for translating rhetoric into practice' Studies :219-228. [Details] |
| McCann, Mary Ellen (2012) 'Community Participation in Irish National Drugs Strategy' Irish Review of Community Economic Development Law and Policy 1 (3) :28-41. [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Loughran, H McCann, M H; (2005) Learning about the Experiences of Drug Problems in Three Irish Communities from 1996 to 2002 Employing a Community Participatory Research Approach' 14 th International Symposium IUCISD Recife, Brazil, [Details] |
| Loughran, H and McCann, M H; (2005) 'Escape from the Ivory Tower' 14 th International Symposium IUCISD Recife, Brazil, [Details] |
| Loughran, H; McCann, M.E.; (2008) Community Drug Problems: a Lifespan Perspective Addiction Across the Lifespan Society for the Study of Addiction Annual Symposium York, England. 13th ¿ 14th Nov 2008 [Details] |
| McCann, M.E; (2008) How have the community reps experienced their involvement in drugs task forces? CityWide National Conference [Details] |
| Loughran, H; McCann, M.E; (2008) MI in a Therapeutic Community First International Conference on Motivational Interviewing Interlaken, Switzerland 9th ¿ 11th June [Details] |
| Loughran, H; McCann, M.E.; (2009) Harnessing the Benefits of Mixed Methods Research to Explore Community Drug Problems 5th International Mixed Methods Conference Harrogate, England. July [Details] | |||||||||
| McCann, M.E; (2010) Building a Body of Knowledge Through Collaboration Between the University Sector and the Community Sector International Conference on Education, Research and Innovation 2010 [Details] | |||||||||
| Loughran, H & McCann, M.E.; (2007) Developing Effective Social Policy - A Lesson from A Community Drugs Study 15th Biennial ICSD Symposium Seeking Harmony and Promoting Social Development in a World of Conflict Hong Kong, China, , 16-JUL-07 - 20-JUL-07 [Details] | |||||||||
| McCann, M.E.; (2006) Community Development and Drugs Work in Dublin Social policy and social work - Action and interaction in the context of social development. Biennial European ICSD Conference Warsaw, Poland, , 28-JUN-06 - 02-JUL-06 [Details] | |||||||||
| McCann, M H; (2005) 'Exploring Communities' Perceptions of Change in Community Drug Problems Since 1996' Social Science Research Centre conference 'Counting, Measuring, Valuing: Four Decades of Social Science Research at UCD' , 07-APR-05 [Details] | |||||||||
| Loughran, H; McCann, M.H; (2005) Learning about the Experiences of Drug Problems in Three Irish Communities from 1996 to 2002 Employing a Community Participatory Research Approach Social needs Global solutions: creative approaches for social development 14th International Symposium IUCISD Recife, Brazil, , 25-JUL-05 - 29-JUL-05 [Details] | |||||||||
| Loughran, H & McCann, M.H; (2005) Escape from the Ivory Tower Social needs Global solutions: creative approaches for social development 14th International Symposium IUCISD Recife, Brazil, , 25-JUL-05 - 29-JUL-05 [Details] | |||||||||
| McCann, M H; (2004) 'Building community capacity to combat drugs' EU/LAC High Level Meeting Dublin, Clontarf Castle, [Details] | |||||||||
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Published Reports
| Loughran, H. and McCann, ME; (2006) Ballymun Community Case Study: Experiences and Perceptions of Problem Drug Use. NACD, Dublin. [Details] |
| Loughran, H. and McCann, ME; (2006) A Community Drugs Study: Developing Community Indicators of Drug Use. NACD, Dublin. [Details] |
| Loughran, Hand McCann, ME; (2006) Bray Community Case Study: Experiences and Perceptions of Problem Drug Use. NACD, Dublin. [Details] |
| Loughran, H. and McCann, ME.; (2006) Crumlin Community Case Study: Experiences and Perceptions of Problem Drug Use. NACD, Dublin. [Details] |
Reports
| McCann, M.H & Adams, J; (1996) Joint Systems Approaches for the Prevention of Drug Misuse . Reports [Details] |
| McCann, Mary Ellen; (1997) Poverty, Drugs and Community Development . Reports [Details] |
| McCann, Mary Ellen; (1997) Dublin Communities Hurt by Drugs, Drugs in Dublin; Together We Can Make A Difference. Reports [Details] |
| McCann, M.H.; (1999) Stepping Stones to Change A Discussion on Rehabilitation . Reports [Details] |
| King, McCann, Adams; (2001) Movers and Shakers A Study of Community Involvement in Responding to the Drugs Issue Ballymun Youth Action Project. Reports [Details] |
Associations
| Association: MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers), Function/Role: Network for dissemination of training methods and research in Motivational Interviewing |
Conference Contributions
| CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign conference; (2006) Meeting of national community representatives on drugs task forces to select reps to go on National Drug Strategy Team. [Chaired Session], Community Representatives Selection Conference, Dublin , 26-MAY-06. |
| McCann, M.H.; (1990) Responding to Drug/Alcohol Related Problems in Dublin. [Oral Presentation], PRIDE Conference on Drug Prevention, Orlando, Florida April 1990 , 01-APR-90. |
| McCann, M.H.; Chair of overall conference. [Other], Bury The Hatchet 1st Conference to launch Community Response in 1990, Kevin St, Dublin . |
| McCann, M.H.; Local Networks - Community Oriented Prevention of Addiction. [Oral Presentation], Inaugural Conference of European Drug Prevention Week October, 1994, Aachen, Germany . |
| McCann, M.H.; Community approaches to drug prevention. [Oral Presentation], Youth Work and Drugs National Youth Council of Ireland 1996, Dublin . |
| McCann, M.H.; Poverty, Drugs and Community Development. [Invited Oral Presentation], The Role of the Community Development Programmes in assisting communities to respond to major drug problems. February 1997, Dublin Castle . | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; Dublin Communities Hurt By Drugs. [Oral Presentation], Drugs in Dublin; Together We Can Make A Difference. Dublin Corporation February 1997, Dublin Castle . | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; Inter-Agency Approaches to Drug Prevention. [Invited Oral Presentation], Departments of Education and Health; Major international conference on responding to drugs; Dublin during Irelands Presidency of the EU, November, 1996, Dublin Castle . | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; Young People and Drug Use. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Strengthening the Networks Irish National Conference for European Drug Prevention Week in 1994, Dublin . | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; (2002) Drug Policy future directions Irish YouthWork. [Invited Oral Presentation], Tackling Drugs in Local Communities not kicking it to touch. Irish YouthWork Centre/SUPER Conference , Dublin , 18-JUN-02. | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; (2001) Conference Chair. [Other], Communities, Families and Drug Users Our Role in Implementing the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign, Dublin Castle , 11-DEC-01. | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; (1999) A Community Approach to Promoting Behaviour Change in Seminar on Maintaining and promoting risk reduction. [Invited Oral Presentation], Maintaining and Promoting Risk Reduction Education and Prevention Sub-Committee of the National Aids Strategy Committee, Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin , 21-APR-99. | |||||||||
| McCann M.H.; (1999) The Local Community Perspective in Seminar Integrated Responses to Drug Misuse; Challenges for Policy. [Invited Oral Presentation], Integrated Responses to Drug Misuse: Challenges for Policy Irish Social Policy Association, Wynn's Hotel, Dublin , 23-APR-99. | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; (1999) Exploring Community Participation in Responses to Substance Use Issues for Policy and Practice. [Non Refereed Paper/Abstract Presented at Conference], Substance use policy & practice; past, present and future International Conference Centre for Alcohol and Drug Studies, University of Paisley, Paisley, Scotland , 09-SEP-99 - 10-SEP-99. | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; (1998) Community Involvement in Drugs Policies and Strategies. [Invited Oral Presentation], Cork Partnership Conference on Drugs, Cork , 28-NOV-98. | |||||||||
| McCann, M.H.; (1996) *. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Joint systems Approaches for the Prevention of Drug Misuse, Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin , 06-NOV-96 - 06-NOV-96. | |||||||||
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Committees
| Committee : National Advisory Committee on Drugs |
| Committee : Drug Treatment Centre Trinity Court Dublin. |
| Committee : Teen CounsellingCrosscare |
| Committee : National AIDS Strategy Committee |
| Committee : Irish Association of Alcohol and Addiction Counsellors |
| Committee : Health Sub Group of Community Workers Co-op | |||||||||
| Committee : Chair of Management Board of PACE | |||||||||
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