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Pilot plan to help teen mums
News from The Peterborough Evening Telegraph, www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk
A PIONEERING project to reduce neglect and improve health in young children is to be launched in the city.
The Department of Health released funding to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) to role out an early intervention scheme called the Family Nurse Partnership Programme.
The trust is one of only 18 in the country to get the funding which will be used to target areas of high deprivation.
It follows on from 30 years of research at the University of Colorado in the United States of America.
It will see teenage mums and dads given support throughout pregnancy and into parenthood.
Dr Attila Vegh, chief executive at CPFT, said: “Because this programme provides early intervention, it means we are able to support young parents right from the start.
“This programme targets areas of high deprivation. Due to pockets of rural isolation in this county, young parents don’t always get the support they need.
“This project will have a positive impact on the well-being of the whole family.”
Families can refer themselves, on a voluntary basis, through midwives or direct to the trust itself.
A family nurse will then work closely with the parents-to-be to help teens adopt healthier lifestyles such as giving up smoking.
It not only helps improve the baby’s chance of a healthy birth, but will guide the parents through the first two years of the child’s life.
The nurse will also work closely with the dad to increase his involvement.
In the US study, it saved between $17,000 and $34,000 per child by the time they reached the age of 15 and was one of only two programmes which prevent child mistreatment.
Cllr Sheila Scott, Peterborough City Council cabinet member for children’s services, was delighted with the news.
She said: “This sort of funding is really important to the city, particularly when money is in relatively short supply.
“To be able to do this early intervention work where the children might, but not necessarily, be at risk is great and I am delighted that the trust has got this money.”
For more information on the scheme or to make a referral, contact Kirstie Lynn at kirstie.lynn@cpft.nhs.uk or visit www.cpft.nhs.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
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Lazy Daisy
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 09:36 AMFree condoms are a must. Also, improve the education, aspirations and self esteem of girls so they don't allow themselves to be impregnated by a feckless male who is not capable of commiting to the upbringing of a child. Girl or boy, your fertility is your responsibility.
rebel woman
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 09:14 AM@1 - totally agree. Can't get a job - don't care. Lets get pregnant, get a house and get everything paid for - job done
goneaway
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 08:37 AMI would have thought that 'prevention' and not intervention should be the key word. Low school achievers especially in P'boro seem to often have one goal - procreation wihtout knowing the implications. Go into the schools and do some hard talking - dish out free condoms to the thick little bug..... and stop pandering to them and wasting good hard working peoples tax money.
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