A report examined the needs of young carers who gave care and support in families affected by enduring parental mental illness and/or substance misuse. Young carers should be identified early, protected from having to carry out inappropriate caring roles, and – along with their families – listened to, with their experience being used to inform policy and practice.
Source: Signposts: See me, hear me, talk to me – talk to my family as well, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services/Association of Directors of Children's Services
Links: Report | ADASS press release
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the role and agency of care-giving children, based on empirical findings in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Source: Anne Wihstutz, 'Working vulnerability: agency of caring children and children s rights', Childhood, Volume 18 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
Researchers evaluated a programme (initiated by the former Labour government) involving intensive, family-focused approaches to addressing the needs of families who faced multiple and complex problems. In the local authorities running family pathfinders, it was found that every £1 invested resulted in nearly £2 being saved in other costs to the state.
Source: York Consulting, Turning Around the Lives of Families with Multiple Problems: An evaluation of the Family and Young Carer Pathfinders Programme, Research Report 154, Department for Education
Links: Report | Annex | Brief | DE press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Sep
Researchers evaluated the teenage parent supported housing pilot. The pilot involved 7 local authorities providing 'enhanced support packages' for teenage parents, with a particular emphasis on those aged 16 and 17 and those not living with parents/carers. The pilot was associated with improved outcomes for teenage parents in a number of areas, most notably by helping them gain and sustain suitable accommodation, and via improved confidence in their own abilities as young adults and parents.
Source: Deborah Quilgars, Sarah Johnsen, Nicholas Pleace, Jennifer Beecham, and Eva Bonin, Supporting Independence? Evaluation of the teenage parent supported housing pilot – Final report, Research Report RR158, Department for Education
Date: 2011-Sep
Researchers examined peer effects in teenage motherhood – in particular, the impact of an elder sister's teenage fertility on the teenage childbearing of a younger sister. Within families, teen births tended to be 'contagious': the effect was larger where siblings were close in age, and for people from low-resource households.
Source: Karin Monstad, Carol Propper, and Kjell Salvanes, Is Teenage Motherhood Contagious? Evidence from a natural experiment, Working Paper 11/262, Centre for Market and Public Organisation (University of Bristol)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Aug
A report examined good practice in enhanced housing support for teenage parents.
Source: Identification of Good Practice in Enhanced Housing Support for Teenage Parents, Foyer Federation
Links: Report | Foyer Federation press release
Date: 2011-Apr
Researchers examined work undertaken by local authorities to develop systems and support that addressed the needs of families with young carers. It explored some of the positive outcomes linked to taking a family-focused approach, and highlighted good practice.
Source: James Ronicle and Sally Kendall, Improving Support for Young Carers: Family focused approaches, Research Report RR084, Department for Education
Links: Report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2011-Feb