Teenage Parents Next Steps: Guidance for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts

To complement guidance sent last year to local areas on accelerating reductions in under-18 conceptions, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has launched a refreshed strategy designed to improve outcomes for teenage parents and their children.

The strategy provides guidance for local authorities and primary care trusts on the integrated services that we want each local area to provide. It also gives details about the support that will be provided nationally to assist local delivery. It aims to improve outcomes in three broad areas:

• Child health outcomes, as children born to teenage mothers have 60% higher rates of infant mortality and are at increased risk of low birth weight
  
  
• Poor emotional health and well-being experienced by teenage mothers
  
  
• Teenage parents' poor economic well-being

The refreshed strategy takes account of the findings from the Sure Start Plus pilots and the US model of health-led parenting programmes now being piloted in 10 areas in England. 

The strategy relies upon many services, including midwifery, health visiting, children's centres and targeted youth support services. The strategy aims to ensure that these services, provide integrated, tailored support for young parents. It  also aims to ensure that they work together better to address the challenges that young parents face.

It recommends that each young parent receives support from a lead professional who provides ongoing support, including brokering access to specialist services where necessary.

Click to read more about teenage pregnancy on this website.