Teen Parent Initiatives
Services for teen parents aim to improve the health, development, education and welfare of teenage parents and their children. These initiatives include; Teen Parent Intensive Case Workers, supported by Volunteer Neighbourhood Supporters and Parenting Support for Teen Fathers.
On this Page:
Teen Parent Intensive Case Workers
Intensive Case Workers help the most vulnerable teen parents stay in education and prepare for future employment. They also link vulnerable teen parents and their children to the services and support they need, such as antenatal care, housing, budgeting and parenting services, Well Child services and early childhood education. Preventing further unplanned pregnancies is also a focus.
Locations of the Teen Parent Intensive Case Workers
| Location | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Rotorua | Tipu Ora Charitable Trust |
| Christchurch | St John of God Waipuna Youth and Community Services Trust |
| Auckland central | Auckland Women's Centre |
| Gisborne | Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust |
| Hastings | Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga |
| Whangarei | Te Ora Hou Northland Inc |
| Auckland South (Mangere) | Turuki Health Care |
| Auckland South (Manurewa and Mangere) | Taonga Education Centre Charitable Trust |
| Far North | Far North REAP |
| Auckland South (Papakura) | Papakura Marae Society |
| Auckland West (Waitakere) | Thrive Teen Parent Support |
| Hamilton | Barnardos Waikato |
| Tauranga | Tauranga Early Years Service Hub (Te Manu Toroa Trust) |
| Palmerston North | Te Aroha Noa Community Services Trust |
| Whanganui | Jigsaw Whanganui |
| Porirua | Wesley Community Action |
| Lower Hutt | Vibe (Hutt Valley Youth Trust) |
| Invercargill | Family Works Southland |
Practice Guidelines
Service specifications, which used to be part of the contract, have now been repackaged into easy to read guidelines. These are to be read alongside contracts as best practice ways to deliver each service.
Volunteer Neighbourhood Support
Volunteer neighbourhood supporters will assist the case workers in the nine communities where Teen Parent Intensive Case Workers are currently working. They will provide support for teen parents who are not facing major challenges, but may be isolated and would benefit from greater support to stay connected with their neighbourhoods.
Parenting Support for Teen Fathers
Teen mothers are commonly the focus of initiatives for teen parents, and teen fathers are often overlooked. This initiative supports the development and delivery of parenting support programmes specifically designed for teen fathers.
Locations of the Volunteer Neighbourhood Support and Parenting Support for Teen Fathers initiatives
| Location | Organisation delivering Volunteer Neighbourhood Support | Organisation delivering Parenting Support for Teen Fathers |
|---|---|---|
| Rotorua | Tipu Ora Charitable Trust | Family Focus Rotorua |
| Christchurch | St John of God Waipuna Youth and Community Services Trust | Father and Child Trust |
| Auckland central | Thrive Teen Parent Support | Thrive Teen Parent Support |
| Gisborne | Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust | Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust |
| Hastings | Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga | Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga |
| Whangarei | Te Ora Hou Northland Inc | Te Ora Hou Northland Inc |
| Auckland South (Otara) | Otara Health | Otara Health |
| Auckland South (Mangere) | Taonga Education Centre Charitable Trust | STRIVE Community Trust |
| Auckland South (Manurewa) | Taonga Education Centre Charitable Trust | Iosis |
Evaluation of Teen Parent Service Coordinators
An evaluation of the Teen Parent Service Co-ordinators (now known as Intensive Case Workers) initiative in 2009 showed that the service was well implemented and was operating in accordance with the policy intent. However, it was noted that many Teen Parent Service Coordinators carried case loads greater than what was recommended in the original policy, and therefore were not always able to focus on the most vulnerable teen parents.
Young parents, predominantly female and aged between 14 and 19 years old, appeared to be well engaged with the service. Coordinators in all sites were working directly with young people and networking with other agencies that offered relevant services to young parents.
The evaluation identified that young parents participating in this service had been supported to access many services that can be expected to improve their health, education and social outcomes. The teen parents and Teen Parent Service Coordinators who took part in the evaluation were clear that the initiative is needed in their communities and that the service was making a difference.
