Supporting Young Fathers Network
The national policy framework for working with young fathers has been set in a number of documents that aim to create more father-inclusive mainstream services, notably The National Service Framework for Children, Young People, and Maternity Services (DfES, 2004) and the Sure Start Children's Centre: Practice Guidance (DfES, 2006).
Teenage Parents Next Steps: Guidance for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts ( DCSF & DH, 2007 ) makes it clear that the challenge for practitioners working with young parents is to make a reality of the commitment - 'to make services more accessible and welcoming to young fathers who want to engage positively with them.'Key policy documents:
Getting Maternity Services Right for Pregnant Teenagers and Young Fathers (June 2008)
Teenage parents: who cares? A guide to commissioning and delivering maternity services for young parents. (2nd edition) (July 2008)
Multi-agency Working to Support Pregnant Teenagers: A Midwifery Guide to Partnership Working with Connexions and other Agencies. Department for Education and Skills, Department of Health, Royal College of Midwives (2007)
Teenage Parents Next Steps: Guidance for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts (2007) DCSF
Teenage Pregnancy Next Steps: Guidance for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts on Effective Delivery of Local Strategies (2006)
Children's Centre's Practice Guidance (2006)
National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (2004)