An article examined the impact on teenage pregnancy of interventions that addressed the social disadvantage associated with early parenthood. There was a 'small but reliable' evidence base supporting the effectiveness and appropriateness of early childhood interventions and youth development programmes for reducing unintended teenage pregnancy.
Source: Angela Harden, Ginny Brunton, Adam Fletcher and Ann Oakley, 'Teenage pregnancy and social disadvantage: systematic review integrating controlled trials and qualitative studies', British Medical Journal, 12 November 2009
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Nov
A report evaluated the Nurse-Family Partnership programme, which provided intensive support for vulnerable first-time young mothers and their families.
Source: Jacqueline Barnes et al., Nurse-Family Partnership Programme: Second Year Pilot Sites Implementation in England – The Infancy Period, Research Report RR166, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | DCSF press release
Date: 2009-Sep
The Prime Minister announced a plan under which all young parents aged 16-17 in receipt of state support would be placed in a network of supervised homes. He said that these shared homes would offer a 'new start in life' where people could learn responsibility and how to raise their children properly.
Source: Speech by Gordon Brown MP (Prime Minister), 29 September 2009
Links: Text of speech | YWCA press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Inside Housing report | Community Care report
Date: 2009-Sep
A new book examined who was likely to have a baby as a teenager, the consequences of early motherhood, and how teenage pregnancy was dealt with in the media. Society's negative attitude to young mothers was likely to marginalize an already excluded group, and efforts should be focused primarily on supporting young mothers and their children.
Source: Lisa Arai, Teenage Pregnancy: The making and unmaking of a problem, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Jul
The Children's Commissioner for Wales published the findings of research into young carers. Key findings included: 37 per cent of young carers felt that their opinions were not respected by others; 52 per cent had felt they could not cope during the previous week; and 73 per cent of those who administered medication had never received any training.
Source: Full of Care: Young carers in Wales 2009, Children's Commissioner for Wales (01792 765600)
Links: Report | CCW press release
Date: 2009-Jun
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that children with caring responsibilities were often 'unidentified, unsupported and without a voice'. Too few young carers who helped to care for their disabled parents were known about or receiving support in the eight local councils areas in England visited.
Source: Supporting Young Carers: Identifying, assessing and meeting the needs of young carers and their families, HMI 080252, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (07002 637833)
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | PRTC press release | Action for Children press release | Childrens Society press release | Community Care report | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jun
An article examined discrepancies between different accounts of teenage motherhood. The government's teenage pregnancy strategy portrayed young motherhood as problematic, and the cause of poor outcomes: on the other hand, qualitative researchers had demonstrated that early motherhood could be experienced positively.
Source: Lisa Arai, 'What a difference a decade makes: rethinking teenage pregnancy as a problem', Social Policy and Society, Volume 8 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Apr
A report examined the economic impact of support projects for young carers. There were 'significant' financial savings in social support – £6.72 for every £1 invested in the projects. But young carers had an increased probability of being 'at risk' themselves through their caring role: they had an increased probability of missing out on education or training, a greater danger of developing mental or physical health problems, and a higher likelihood of offending and becoming involved with the criminal justice system.
Source: Economic Evaluation of Young Carers' Interventions, Princess Royal Trust for Carers (020 7480 7788) and Crossroads Caring for Carers
Links: Report | Summary | PRTC press release
Date: 2009-Mar
A report called for a radical overhaul of common assumptions and attitudes about teenage families, and a much more positive approach to supporting them – focusing not on their problems but on their hopes for themselves and for their children.
Source: Gerard Lemos, Freedom's Consequences: Reducing teenage pregnancies and their negative effects in the UK, Lemos&Crane (020 8348 8263)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Feb
A report provided an overview and synthesis of research and other evidence on young carers and young adult carers. It considered the number and characteristics of such carers; the factors that explained why they became carers in the first place and why they often had to stay in caring roles for many years; the nature of the tasks and responsibilities that they performed within the family; the range of negative and positive outcomes associated with caring; the needs of young carers and how they could be best supported by service-providers; and specific issues confronting rural young carers and rural service-providers.
Source: Saul Becker and Fiona Becker, Service Needs and Delivery Following the Onset of Caring Amongst Children and Young Adults: Evidenced based review, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Jan