Supporting Teenage Parents

The following is an extract from our Practice Guide ‘Supporting Teenage Parents’ – to view full guide see link below. 

It should be read in conjunction with our blog/guide ‘Preventing Teenage Pregnancy’. 

Teenagers who become parents are known to experience greater educational, health, social and economic difficulties than young people who are not parents.  

Whilst they can be competent parents, all the evidence shows that children born to teenagers are much more likely to experience a range of negative outcomes in later life. 

These outcomes have been demonstrated to be more adverse still in the case of Looked After Children who become parents because this group are more likely than others to be unemployed, have more mental health problems, be expected to be independent, and to have little social or economic support.  

One in four care leavers will be teenage parents by the age of 20. Care leavers are more likely to continue with the pregnancy than most other groups. 

We must therefore make sure that young people who do become pregnant, and decide to go ahead with their pregnancy, receive the support they need to achieve the best possible outcomes for themselves and their children, and avoid any unplanned subsequent pregnancies whilst still teenagers.  

There will be many challenges to engaging this group as they can at times be wary of professional’s interaction whom they see as watching and judging their parenting. Professionals will need to be persistent and ensure that teenage parents are fully involved and consulted on the services they require. 

Generally when working with teenage parents you should: 

·         Involve them in shaping how services are delivered or find out what it is they want

·         Adopt a flexible and patient approach

·         Be willing to change the service

·         Provide a multi-agency approach

·         Be willing to examine your own attitudes and beliefs regarding teenage parents 

It is important to remember that not all partners of teenage parents will be teenagers. Research shows that engaging with fathers can be challenging but many want to be involved in their child’s lives. It is often necessary therefore to think creatively about how to involve fathers. Often a partner’s support to teenage mothers can have a positive impact in areas such as take up and sustaining of breastfeeding and smoking reduction during pregnancy. Local Children’s Centre’s may offer Dad’s groups or they may prefer a one to one arrangement.The youth service may also offer tailored services for teenage parents.

End of extract, view full guide ‘Supporting Teenage Parents’ 

Useful Links:

Teenage Pregnancy Next Steps: Guidance for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts on Effective Delivery of Local Strategies 

Bubbalicious –information and advice for teenage parents.

Family Planning Association –advice and guidance on sexual health, contraception and pregnancy choices.

Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths – advice for professionals and teenage parents on sudden infant death, health and sleep safe.

Dads-space –advice and information for Dad’s.

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