The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Rising to the 2010 challenge

1. The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Rising to the 2010 challenge Wendy Nicholson Regional Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator

2. The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: the goals Halve the under 18 conception rate by 2010 and set a firmly established downward trend in under 16 conceptions Improve the health and social outcomes for teenage parents and their children, with a goal of 60% of teenage parents in education, training or employment by 2010 10 year strategies in each top tier Local Authority to reach local reduction targets. Strategies led by local teenage pregnancy co-ordinators with Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Boards

3. The evidence base for the strategy: SEU Teenage Pregnancy Report (1999) Clear messages to young people in their own media SRE in schools and out of school settings providing knowledge and skills on delaying first sex, risks of unprotected sex and effective contraceptive/condom use Open discussion with parents/carers Easy access to confidential youth friendly contraceptive/sexual health services Tailored health and social support for teenage parents … a multi-faceted approach, with ALL factors in place, intensive delivery to at risk groups, combined with additional motivation to delay early pregnancy

4. A Government Priority DfES/DH Public Service Agreement: to half the under 18 conception rate as part of a broader strategy to improve sexual health DH Public Service Agreement to reduce infant mortality by 10% by 2010 DfES Public Service Agreement to reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training by 2 percentage points by 2010

5. A priority supported by… Children and Young People’s National Service Framework Public Health White Paper: Choosing Health National Healthy Schools Programme Forthcoming Youth Green Paper All programmes prioritise the reduction of under 18 conceptions and STIs and support for teenage parents - with universal improvements for all and intensive support for those most at risk

6. A local priority for Local Authorities and the NHS Change for Children Outcomes Framework Be Healthy Outcome: Sexually Healthy Target: under 18 conception rates Indicator: Diagnostic rate of new episodes of STIs among under 16s and 16-19s Achieve Economic Well-being Target: 16-19s not in education, employment and training PCT indicators: progress towards under 18 conception target; 48 hour access to GUM clinics; number of new diagnoses of gonorrhoea; % of 15-24s accepting chlamydia screening

7. Progress towards national target - accelerated decline required after 2004 2004 target 1998 baseline 2010 target

8. National evaluation in-depth study: factors associated with declining rate areas • Strong local leadership • Effective partnerships • Robust, senior coordination • Local support for the Strategy • High priority on public health agenda • LEA support on PSHE implementation • Access to young people’s sexual health services ..in short all factors had to be in place – assisted by small population sizes

9. Progress in the North West • 6 red traffic light areas • 5 amber / red • 1 amber / green • 10 green • Less than 50% of areas have a sustained reduction from the baseline • The NW has the 2nd highest national rate (London being the highest) • If the NW rates do not decrease the national target will not be achieved

10. The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: next steps • Meeting the 2010 target • Revisiting the evidence base • The policy priority • Mid-strategy review of progress • Strengthened, targeted implementation • Planning for 05-06 and Children and Young People’s Plans

11. Beyond 2006 • Raising aspiration and self esteem • Delaying first sex • Enhancing regeneration • Enhanced opportunity • Long term solution not short term fixes • Mainstreaming the strategy • Financial commitment • Joint ownership • Embracing success and learning from what works

12. Strengthening all aspects of strategy to high rate areas and vulnerable groups Under 18 conceptions highly concentrated (50% of conceptions in 20% wards with the highest rates) At least one ‘hotspot’ ward in majority of LAs Strong links with deprivation and education attainment (over and above deprivation) Under 18 conception rates average 68 per 1000 in deprived wards where <40% girls achieve 5+ GCSEs v 51 in deprived wards with >50% 5+ GCSEs Poor school attendance also closely linked Other vulnerable groups: LAC/ care leavers, young offenders, young people with mental health problems, some ethnic groups: teenage motherhood higher among Black and mixed White and Black ethnic groups

13. Planning for 05-06 and Children and Young People’s Plans New data and analysis to help Partnership Boards review progress, identify vulnerable groups and high rate neighbourhoods, local census data on teenage mothers, and progress of ‘statistical neighbours’ Guidance for 05-06 Action Plan: strategic objectives of Strategy set out against ECM five outcomes: universal and targeted action for each objective Integration of all aspects of teenage pregnancy strategy into universal and targeted Children and Young People’s Plans April 06

14. Finally, • If we invest in young people we invest in the future, if we fail to support young people what does the future hold for us all?

15. Contact details: Wendy Nicholson Regional Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator Wendy.nicholson@dh.gsi.gov.uk