Teenage Parent Service Co-ordinators
The Teenage Parent Service Co-ordinators provide teenage parents with better access to the support services they need for themselves and their young children.
Research shows that teenage parents and their children are more likely than older mothers to have multiple and complex needs.
Nine Teenage Parent Service Co-ordinators, working from existing youth services in communities with high rates of teenage births, have been employed to help teenage parents access health services, education providers, government agencies like Housing New Zealand and Work and Income, and other social services. They also put them in touch with parent support groups who can help them develop parenting knowledge and skills.
The Teenage Parent Service Co-ordinators ensure the children have access to Well Child / Tamariki Ora health checks, immunisation programmes, and quality childcare and education for under fives.
The initiative was initially funded for three years (July 2006 to June 2009). In May 2009, Government approved $1.008 million for an additional year of funding. This will allow the current evaluation of the Teenage Parent Service Co-ordinators initiative to be completed.
Locations of Teenage Parent Service Co-ordinators
Location |
Organisation |
|---|---|
| Rotorua | Tipu Ora Charitable Trust |
| Christchurch | St John of God Waipuna Youth and Community Services Trust |
| Auckland | Auckland Women’s Centre and the Salvation Army New Zealand Trust |
| Gisborne | Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust |
| Hastings | Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga |
| Whangarei | Te Ora Hou Northland Inc |
| Mangere | Putea O Pua Maori Midwives Collective Auckland Incorporated (Turuki Health Care) |
| Manurewa and Mangere | TAONGA – Education Centre Charitable Trust |
Evaluation
An evaluation of the initiative is underway. The evaluation is exploring the extent to which the programme is facilitating young parents’ access to services and enhancing positive outcomes for the young parents and their children. Preliminary findings show that the service has been well implemented and developed. Young parents, predominantly female and aged between 14 and 19 years old, appeared to be well engaged with the service. Co-ordinators in all sites were working directly with young people and networking with other agencies that offered relevant services to young parents.
For more information contact Polly O'Brien or call 04 978 4258.
