Children Living away from Home
Research has shown that by the age of 20 a quarter of children who had been in care were young parents, and 40% were mothers .
The prevalence of teenage motherhood among looked after girls under-18 is around three times higher than the prevalence among all girls under-18 in England.
Redbridge’s Children in Care Team reception is also a YPF site offering free condoms and information and referrals to young people accessing services.
These services are just for young people attending the CiC and are not publicised to young people outside of the service.
The team has a Looked After Children’s Health Advisor who is family planning trained.
She delivers all routine health assessments and routinely asks young people about contraception & sexual health, signposting to services where required. For more information contact Joy Edwards on 0208 708 7516.
Among girls aged under-18 and still in care, the rate of teenage motherhood is around three times higher than the rate among all girls aged under 18 in England
(Teenage Parents: Next Steps,2007)
has been commissioned by Redbridge Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and was written in consultation with professionals and young people living away from home in a range of settings.
The Teenage Pregnancy Team in partnership with the Looked After Children’s Health Advisor deliver training to foster carers and social workers on Talking to Teenagers about Sex & Relationships, Contraception and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The Foyer in Redbridge is a supported living project for young people aged 16-18 years and has 70 self-contained flats, including 8 flats for Young Parents.
The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy works in partnership with the Foyer to deliver staff training and facilitate events for young people and attending and facilitating staff meetings for information sharing and support.
