Teen initiative has supported 10,000 young parents over 25 years
New ‘Young Parents’ programme to expand into new counties
A proven wrap around support programme for teenage parents is to be evolved and expanded into a new service for young parents, in response to changing needs of at risk young families.
At a special event in Dublin today, 25 years of the Teen Parent Support Programme (TPSP) was celebrated after it has supported approximately 10,000 women and men, across ten counties.
The celebration event was accompanied by the launch of the new Young Parents Support Programme (YPSP) – a reframed approach which will expand to reach young parents who face challenges in 19 counties by 2027.
The new YPSP will support parents under 24 as opposed to under 20 in the teen programme. It will also remain engaged for longer continuing to support the parents throughout the first 1,000 days of the child’s life.
The National Manager of both programmes Samantha Dunne said that the number of teen pregnancies has dramatically fallen in the 25 years of the TPSP, but the needs are now far greater, with more complex cases and more parents in their early 20s needing continued supports.
“Today’s announcement of the YPSP comes following the impact of 25 years of the TPSP, which during its lifetime it expanded from covering three to ten counties.
“In 1999 there were 3,135 births to parents under the age of 20-years-old. In 2023 that number has significantly reduced to 705. However, complexity in cases has increased with young parents having a social care background, having increased mental health issues, exposed to domestic gender-based abuses, high incidences of homelessness, and some substance misuse issues.
“So although births to young parents has decreased, challenges, adversity and many other systemic issues can impact young parents significantly. This has led to the need to expand the age-range criteria, and support parents for a longer period of time; until their child reaches their first 1000 days.
“We are delighted with what the TPSP has achieved, and are also committed to responding to changing needs. In 2022 European Social Funding was secured to evolve it into a new programme, co-funded by the Irish Government and European Union, and we are therefore pleased to today officially launch the YPSP.
“Treoir has been delighted to work closely with Tusla, Prevention, Partnership and Family Support programme, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who have overall responsibility in terms of funding allocations, governance and management of the expansion processes.”
The secured funding will see the TPSP evolve into the new YPSP programme in all existing sites by 2027, together with the expansion of new programme to many new sites.
Ms Dunne concluded by saying that the YPSP’s ambition after 2027 is to continue to expand and reach its target of offering services to young families in all counties across the country.
Further Information
Ronan Cavanagh, Cavanagh Communications: (086) 317 9731.
Treoir is the National Information Service for unmarried parents and their children. www.treoir.ie
Case Studies
Jane
Jane was 18 years of age and 3 months pregnant when she was referred to the Teen Parents Support Programme. She came from a family background which was extremely deprived, both emotionally and financially. Despite this, Jane had succeeded in getting a place in a local Third Level College where she was studying for a Business Degree. Although highly motivated, she feared that the demands of rearing her child would force her to discontinue her education. The Teen Parents Support Programme was able to provide Jane with some of the supports she lacked at home. As her delivery date coincided with exam times the TPSP Project Leader secured special arrangements for her while doing her exams which she passed with 1st Class Honours. She was also supported to apply for a grant from an Access Fund administered by the College. Between this and the School Completion Programme administered by the Department of Education and Science, Jane was provided with adequate clothing and shoes which she lacked at the point of referral as well as funding for college books and childcare. Jane did not want her baby to grow up in the same deprived and distressful environment in which she was raised. The TPSP supported her to explore alternative accommodation with the local Housing Officer and Community Welfare Officer. Jane is now living in her own rented accommodation. She is in her Third Year in College and plans to continue to study for her Masters. Through her resilience, her motivation and the support the TPSP was able to harness for her, Jane has been able to use education to break the cycle of deprivation into which she was born and to provide an independent future for herself and her child.
Stephanie
Stephanie is a 20-year-old mother. Her two children are aged 2 years and 13 months and she was referred to the Teen Parents Support Programme when she was pregnant with her first child. Stephanie had spent her teen years in residential care and her first move to independent living was following the birth of her first child. Her relationship with her family of origin is strained and they do not offer her any support. Her relationship with the father of her children broke up soon after the birth of their second child. At this time Stephanie and her children were living in cold, damp, substandard accommodation. The TPSP Project Worker liaised closely with After Care Services and encouraged Stephanie to remain in contact with her Social Worker. The Project Worker supported Stephanie to find better quality accommodation, to attend to health issues of her own and to bring her children for developmental check-ups. The Project Worker called regularly to Stephanie at home and created an atmosphere where Stephanie would confide in her about her feelings and concerns. She also helped her and her former partner to resolve issues regarding shared parenting and maintenance. Stephanie is now living in adequate accommodation, her health has improved and she has a positive relationship with the father of her children. She is very interested in her children’s development and participates in a child development programme organised by the TPSP where she receives ongoing one-to-one support. She also maintains contact with other services available to her such as After Care Services and her Public Health Nurse.
Aaron and Holly
In 2017, Aaron and Holly were both aged 15 years when Holly became pregnant. Aaron dropped out of school during the pregnancy and Holly dropped out 2 years later in Sixth Year. In 2019, Aaron’s relationship with his mother broke down and he became homeless. He tried hostels but was very nervous of staying in them and slept between his grandad’s camper van in Dublin City centre, Holly’s home and the sofas of friends. In 2019 Holly became pregnant again. Her family home was very overcrowded. She shared it with both her parents, two brothers, her sister and her sister’s four-year old child. Holly and her daughter shared a set of bunk beds. In June 2020 she and Aaron went into Homeless Services with their daughter – a month before her new baby was due. They were placed in a B&B in Gardiner Street where they shared a bathroom with 4 other families. They found this experience very difficult. They were not allowed to have a key to their room so they could not lock it at night. They had to vacate their room during the day and could not return to it (so their daughter could have a nap, for example) until the evening because it was locked by staff. On one occasion when Holly needed to go to the Rotunda Hospital in an emergency Aaron brought their daughter to her grandparents in Finglas. When they both returned to the B&B they were not allowed in without their child and Holly (who was now 8 months pregnant) had to wait on the steps outside the B&B until Aaron returned from Finglas late at night with their daughter. The TPSP advocated with a local Homeless Service to have this young, vulnerable family moved to a Family Hub nearby. They moved to the Hub on a Monday without any help and with 8 bags of belongings. On Tuesday it was discovered that some paperwork was missing from Dublin City Council’s (DCC) file so Aaron and Holly (who was heavily pregnant) were moved back to their original B&B with all their belonging and the food they had bought for the Hub. On Wednesday their TPSP Project Worker intervened, sorted the missing paperwork and Aaron and Holly returned to the Hub – again on foot with all their belongings. Some of the shopping they had bought for the Hub had to be thrown out and replaced because there was no fridge in their room in the B&B. This is just one example of numerous difficulties which Holly and Aaron (who are still only 18 years of age) experienced in trying to find temporary housing. In July 2020 Holly had her new baby. The family is still living in the Family Hub and trying to get rented accommodation through the Homeless HAP. They now have a support worker from DCC and their TPSP Project Worker also continues to support and advocate for them.