Exciting new services to give mums and dads the support they need to do the best for their children were launched today by the Prime Minister.

The care and attention a child receives when young will affect their health, behaviour and ability to learn throughout their lives. A recent survey suggests that 85% of mums and dads want more practical help on caring for their baby to provide the best possible start for their children.

The Prime Minister outlined that the support being offered to parents will include: 

•       a brand new digital service for parents-to-be and new parents, providing regular emails and texts with timely information as their pregnancy develops and their child grows;

•       free parenting classes to all parents of children aged five years and under in three trial areas;

•       expert organisations to deliver relationship support for first time parents in four trial areas of the country from this summer.

Digital service for parents-to-be and new parents

From today, the NHS Information Service for Parents will give mums and dads advice they can trust covering a wide range of issues related to staying healthy in pregnancy, preparing for birth and looking after their baby.  

Those signing up to the service will no longer be faced with information overload while surfing the internet, but will have relevant, timely NHS approved advice sent directly to their phones and inboxes. This includes links to specially commissioned videos showing midwives demonstrating practical advice such as bathing your baby and parents discussing issues that affected them and how they supported each other.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

"Parents are nation-builders. It's through love and sheer hard work that we raise the next generation with the right values. That’s why this Government is doing everything possible to support parents.

"We’re doing the big, long-term things to make this country stronger for our children – dealing with our debts; having a massive push for better schools; working to create more good, skilled jobs in our economy.

"But we’re also focussed on making life easier for parents day-to-day, from extending childcare to increasing the number of health visitors. The parenting classes and films we’re launching this week are an important part of that, providing clear, professionally-led advice on everything from teething to tantrums."

Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley said:

"We all want to give our children the best start in life. But sometimes, particularly for first-time parents, bringing a new baby home can be a daunting as well as a happy experience.

"That is why we are determined to help people become more confident in becoming a parent - from pregnancy to the start of their children's lives. From now on, this new information service will be at parents' sides to support them in the first stage of their child's journey, guiding them with relevant information and first-hand experience from other parents."

Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, welcomed the new service:

“We warmly welcome this innovative online and multi-media service for parents. We hope that the email and text alerts will bolster the work that midwives do with women and their families by providing additional information that will empower and signpost parents to further appropriate sources of support and help.

“We know that pregnancy and maternity care are in many cases the first time most parents will interact with the health service and this presents a unique opportunity to provide health promoting messages to families. This is why good quality information, which this service promotes, during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period can have a significant long-term impact on the health and well-being of mothers and babies.”

Free parenting classes

This service is announced alongside free parenting classes to all parents of children aged five years and under in three trial areas – Middlesbrough, High Peak in Derbyshire and Camden in London.

Mums and dads will be able to use vouchers, available from Boots stores, children’s centres, health visitors and professionals who have contact with families to pay for the classes. The NCT, Coram, Save the Children, and the Fatherhood Institute are among those who are delivering classes.

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather said:

“All parents want the best for their children and we want to help them. Most parents go to ante-natal classes before their child is born and the benefits of these are well-documented.

“We want mums and dads to be able to access similar help and advice in the earliest years of their child’s life and for this to be a normal part of family life.”

The trial will help Government understand how classes could be made available to every mum and dad. Decisions on national roll out will be informed by the independent evaluation.

Mary Rose Brady, Head of Coram’s Parents’ Centre said:

“Parents tell us, no one gives you a manual when you have kids- so here’s our manual.

“Each session that Coram is delivering is based on what years of evidence show will best support children in their early development. Parents are the experts in their own children, but everyone can benefit from understanding the key ingredients."

Sally Copley, Save the Children’s Head of Poverty, said:

“Giving parents extra support shouldn’t stop at antenatal classes. Children’s early years are a crucial time and providing parents with help and advice throughout can only enhance what they are doing already. The success of our programme FAST, that helps parents to engage with their child’s early learning, are proof of the demand for high quality parenting support. We hope that once proven successful these schemes will be available to all children in the UK.”  

All mothers and fathers in the trial areas will be entitled to a voucher covering the cost of a course of parenting classes.  Vouchers are being distributed by professionals working in the early years (for example nurseries, children’s centres, midwives, health visitors) and by pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, Boots. The classes are now open for booking in all three trial areas.

Up to £5m has been made available for the trial between March 2012 and March 2014. This includes funding for redemption of parenting class vouchers and an independent evaluation.

Relationship support

Relate, The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships and the Fatherhood Institute will deliver relationship support sessions for first time parents to support them with the transition to parenthood in four areas of the country from this summer.

The government wants to support strong and stable families and research shows that the birth of a new child can be a stress point for couples. A trial starting in July will offer subsidised relationship support sessions for all expectant mothers and fathers and those with children up to the age of two in the trial areas - York and Leeds, North Essex, Hackney and City of London, Islington and Westminster. Up to £1m has been made available for the trial between April 2012 and March 2014.

The sessions will be delivered by one of three providers and parents will have the choice of face to face and/or online support. They will be designed to help parents understand that it is normal for their relationship to go through a transition period after they have a child and to give them strategies to work through this as a couple. The trial will be managed and promoted by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) to encourage couples to feel that it is normal to access relationship support in the first few years of their child’s life – just as they would go to an antenatal class.

The offer will be distributed by professionals working in the early years – for example, from nurseries, children’s centres, midwives and health visitors.  

Sarah Teather added:

“Becoming a parent is life changing for mothers and fathers. Although this can be an exiting, joyful time, it is also normal for couples to need extra support at this time and I hope this trial will benefit families.”

John Loughton, Head of Public Policy Relate, said:

 “Relate is delighted to be working with the Department for Education. Following the birth of a child, evidence shows that issues like coping with tiredness and new parental responsibilities can leave a couple vulnerable to tension, conflict or poor emotional wellbeing. Couples manage best when they work as a team, and Relate, through this trial, can offer the strategies, advice and confidence couples need to thrive as a parent and a partner.”

I admit I was shocked today reading an article on the BBC website that quoted research from the Prison Reform Trust.

Parents in prison

• It is estimated that there are 160,000 children affected each year by having a parent in prison (Home Office).
• In 2006, more children were affected by the imprisonment of a parent than by a divorce.
• Just 9% of children whose mothers are in prison are cared for by their fathers in their mothers' absence (Home Office).
• Only half of the women who were in contact with their children prior to imprisonment had received a visit since going to prison (Social Exclusion Unit).

Research compiled in the Prison Reform Trust's Prison Factfile June 2011

What is shocking is more children being affected by imprisonment than divorce; granted the marriage rate has dropped and so children affected by relationship breakdown would be a much higher figure.

Clearly this is a huge but largely hidden issue affecting families in the UK, and we need to do much, much more to change the culture that sees only 9% of those with mothers in prison were cared for by their fathers.

Why is it that everything seems to get 'leaked' at the moment?  The report of the Independent Review into the riots was the latest leak today, and in it were some very pragmatic recommendations and observations.  

In particular family was at the heart of the report both in terms of the role of families, the 500,000 'forgotten families', and a call to return to a focus on building character in the next generation to be both the focus of families and PHSE in schools.

In particular there were a number of what seem to be very sensible recommendations about the role of fathers, building perhaps on a our call for the Government to look at simple changes to Birth registrations.

On the subject of families and fathers the report recommends:

"Where it is in the best interests of the child, public services should seek to build positive relationships between children and adults. The Panel recommends:

• Where it is in the best interests of the child, public services should work to facilitate the inclusion of all members of the family who can make a positive contribution to a child’s development, including fathers and grandparents.
• All targeted support, including Family Nurse Partnerships, should seek to engage with fathers around their responsibilities and provide support and advice.
• Where safe to do so and in the best interests of the child, there should be a presumption that schools and statutory children services should, as a matter of course, contact fathers at the same time as mothers about their children. This should be considered by inspectorates as part of wider engagement strategies, for example by Ofsted."

Its a document well worth a read!

http://riotspanel.independent.gov.uk/

Expert family organisations to deliver parenting classes in three areas of the country from this spring

The National Childbirth Trust, Save the Children, and the Family Matters Institute (with Triple P and www.DadTalk.co.uk) are some of the experienced family organisations who will deliver parenting classes in three areas of the country from this spring.

A coalition government trial starting in April will test out how to establish a new market in parenting classes for all parents. Over the next two years an offer of free universal parenting classes, face-to-face and online, will be available to all parents of children aged five years and under, in Middlesbrough, High Peak in Derbyshire, and Camden in London.

The classes are designed to strengthen parenting skills, and to encourage parents to feel that it is normal to get help in the first few years of their child’s life – just as they do in antenatal classes before their child is born.

The Government wants the trials to stimulate the market and increase demand for parenting classes across the country. The providers will offer a mix of classes, catered to different groups of parents, informed by evidence of what works best.

All mothers and fathers in the trial areas with children five years and under will be entitled to a voucher covering the cost of a programme of parenting classes. Vouchers will be distributed by professionals working in the early years – for example, from nurseries, children’s centres, midwives and health visitors.  

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather said:

“Being a parent is one of the most important jobs you can do.  Parents are the most important influence on a child’s healthy development and future lives. We know from the demand for self help books and from speaking to mums and dads that they would welcome light touch key advice and support from time to time.

“Most parents go to ante-natal classes before their child is born. We want parents to be able to seek help and advice in the earliest years of their child’s life and for this to be a normal part of family life.

“Unfortunately in some people’s minds there is a stigma attached to asking for help or attending parenting classes. So we have chosen a wide range of expert organisations, with a good track record of reaching out to parents of all backgrounds. They will attract and engage parents through a mixture of face-to-face and online classes, and in a variety of community settings including schools and children’s centres.

“The settings for classes need to be attractive and convenient to parents, and offered in a variety of locations.”

Fourteen providers are expected to lead delivery of the classes, some operating as a consortium with other partner organisations.

 Six organisations will deliver the classes in all three areas:

• National Childbirth Trust
• Family Links
• Save the Children
• Fatherhood Institute
• Heart of England NHS trust
• Race Equality Foundation (with Mumsnet)

Providers only in Camden:

• Montessori St Nicolas
• Mind Gym (Parent Gym)
• Coram
• City Literary Institute

 Only in Middlesbrough: 

• Barnardo’s

 Only in High Peak: 

• Derbyshire Council
• Family Lives
• Family Matters Institute (with Triple P and www.DadTalk.co.uk)
  

The providers will be paid on a delivery basis only - they will be offered a concession contract which allows them to claim reimbursement for delivering classes to a voucher holding parent.

Examples of classes include:

·      Save the Children Families working with Family and Schools Together (FAST), a non-profit organisation that originated in the US and designs and distributes family strengthening and parent involvement programs. FAST will provide face-to-face parenting classes delivered in schools in all three trial areas, hoping to reach approximately 2,500 parents. FAST has a strong rating from the National Academy for Parenting Research.

·      The National Childbirth Trust (NCT), a charity which helps parents in pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, and a well known provider of antenatal classes. NCT will offer five different courses for parents, delivered both face-to-face and online, including a baby specific course for parents with children under six months old. The courses will run over all three trial areas and will reach up to 3000 parents over the course of the trial.

The Department is also finalising a contract with a consortium led by Ecorys, including Parenting UK and Orion Security Print to provide project management support and data collection for the trial and help with producing and distributing the parenting class vouchers.

Notes to editors:

1. The parenting classes will be open for booking in Camden from April this year, and in all three areas by the end of May.
2. Up to £5m has been made available for the trial between March 2012 and March 2014. This includes funding for redemption of parenting class vouchers; an independent evaluation; and the Local Support and Voucher Provider Services organisation.
3. Research for the Department for Education in 2006 (Parents Direct: Proof of Concept, GfK NOP Social Research) found that nearly three-quarters of parents want regular access to information and advice on parenting. These findings are echoed in figures from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents (2009) who found that 75% of parents would like more information on parenting.
4. The classes are likely to cover:

·        how to promote positive behaviour with better communication and listening skills,

·        managing conflict,

·        the importance of mothers and fathers working as a team,

·        the appropriate play for age/development,

·        understanding the importance of boundaries and routines to children,

·        firm, fair and consistent approaches to discipline, and

·        strengthening positive relationships in the family.

1. The three areas were chosen so that there was a good mix of locations and demographic spread across the country, with medium to high levels of deprivation. One area, High Peak, was chosen because it is also taking part in a trial to increase the number of health visitors working in children's centres.
2. The Local Support and Voucher Provider Services consortium is made up of: Ecorys, a research and consultancy organisation with previous experience of working across a range of sectors including health, transport, world finance and with not-for-profit organisations. They will have responsibility for overall project management, monitoring and data collection. Orion, leading the voucher development and distribution, has worked for high profile clients such as Manchester United and Glastonbury. They will have responsibility for designing the vouchers and leaflets storage, distribution and redemption. Parenting UK, a national membership body for the parenting workforce with excellent knowledge of the sector, and established links with Foundation Years workforce, is leading the local support element of the trial. They will have responsibility for supporting the delivery of classes, and sharing knowledge and best practice.

Calls have been made by leading figures and thinkers in the parenting world, including Matt Buttery CEO of the Family Matters Institute, for the default expectation to be that both parents sign the child’s birth certificate even if they are not married. A letter has been written to Sarah Teather, minister of State for Children and Families.

A mere expectation, with no pressure, would result in about 30,000 more fathers every year signing a birth certificate.

The letter states "The current law still sees fathers as dispensable in a way that does not apply to mothers - it embodies the low expectations of fathers, particularly in vulnerable families, that are still so much a characteristic of our services and our wider culture. Placing a stronger expectation that fathers should be on their child's birth certificate except in exceptional circumstances sends a clear and effective message to fathers about the vital responsibilities they have as parents, and gives children a stronger right to have their identity legally recognised. It makes the expectations on mothers and fathers, as expressed in law, equal."

Also mentioned is a trial of the same legislation in the USA which had positive results in influencing positive father engagement with their children "There is ample evidence to show that even very small shifts in expectations of vulnerable fathers can lead to quite remarkable positive changes on their part. A trial in the USA showed that when midwives simply learned and used the names of fathers in vulnerable families, this correlated with them paying more child support. Changes in expectation are highly effective and the change in birth registration would be a game changer in some families. It would also place a duty on all professionals to inform parents about the expectation, so catalysing more substantial engagement with fathers."

The letter has been signed by prominent figures such as Rebecca Asher (Author of Shattered: Modern Motherhood and the Illusion of Equality), Adrienne Burgess (Fatherhood Institute), Judy Dunn (Professor of Developmental Psychology, King's College London), Dr Hamish Cameron (Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist), Leroy Edozien (Consultant Obstetrician - Engaging Partners on Childbirth research project ), Matt Buttery (Family Matters Institute) and Duncan Fisher OBE (Social Entrepreneur in family services).

As well as the letter an e-Petition to back this legislation change has also been created.  If you would like to sign this e-Petition and show your support, you can do so here.

A White Paper from the Department of Education acknowledges fathers have a vital role to play in the lives of their teenage children:

"particularly as positive male role models for their teenage boys. Dads play a huge part in family life and many fathers increasingly want to be more involved in bringing up their children.  Parenting has a greater impact on children’s wellbeing, learning and development than anything else. Evidence shows us that the positive involvement of fathers, including young fathers, can lead to enhanced educational attainment and school attendance, improved behaviour, better wellbeing and mental health, better peer relationships, and less risk of involvement with crime and substance misuse"

Pg 19 of the white paper features a case study of two dads, Steve and Mike, who found advice and support on the Family Matters Institute www.DadTalk.co.uk forum in being that role model for their teenagers.

"The Positive for Youth white paper and statement brings together for the first time all of the Government’s policies for young people aged 13 to 19. It therefore covers a wide range of issues – from education and youth services, to health, crime, housing and more.  Nine government departments have been involved in developing it – including the Department for Education, the Department of Health, the Home Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Young people and youth professionals have also been involved directly in developing the statement through extensive collaboration and consultation."

More information about the process can be found on the Department for Education website

"Building on the best local practice, Positive for Youth sets out a shared vision for how all parts of society can work together in partnership to support families and improve the lives of young people, particularly those who are most disadvantaged or vulnerable. It also includes a large number of case studies to exemplify the approaches it promotes."

Sir Paul Coleridge has called on people to re-think the "re-cycling" attitude to relationships which he believes has damaging consequences for the children caught up in the heartbreak.

His call to "mend it - don't end it" came on the day that divorce lawyers are expected to receive the highest number of inquiries as people reassess their lives after spending time with family during the holidays.

Sir Paul, 62, who has been married for almost 40 years and has three children, said: "My focus is on the children. I am unashamedly advocating marriage as the gold standard for couples where children are involved."

Sir Paul told The Times that his profession has made its fortune from marital breakdown and "it is now time to put something in".

Lisa Macdonald, a solicitor specialising in divorce, matrimonial and family law, said that in January last year she had about 26 new clients, while for the rest of the year she had between 11 and 15 new clients every month.

The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the number of divorces in England and Wales in 2010 was 119,589, an increase of 4.9 per cent since 2009, when there were 113,949 divorces.

In 1970, 22 per cent of marriages ended in divorce before the 15th wedding anniversary, whereas 33 per cent of marriages in 1995 had ended after the same period.

Sir Paul will take comfort from the fact that there are couples who are still willing to make their marriage work, as counselling service Relate has said that January is also a hectic month.

A spokeswoman for Relate said: "This is our busiest time of year. There's always a huge spike in calls in January. We find that people take stock after the Christmas break because maybe they've had a rough Christmas."

In January last year, Relate reported a 20 per cent increase in calls and a 66 per cent increase in visits to its live chat facility.

Read more about this story at The Telegraph Website.

Family organisations, including Relate, Netmums and the Family Matters Institute have received Government funding to deliver national online and telephone support services, Children’s Minister Sarah Teather announced today. 

The Government is providing up to £11 million to eleven voluntary and community organisations to deliver the support. Specialist organisations including the Family Rights Group, Young Minds and Contact a Family are among those benefiting from the funding.

Families will benefit from a range of support including relationship advice , advice on education issues such as exclusions and information about benefits, and services tailored specifically for father provided by the Family Matters Institute's very own www.DadTalk.co.uk.

Families who need it can also get specialist support – such as parents of disabled children and those with special educational needs and parents whose children have mental health or behaviour problems.

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather said:

All parents need help and advice at some point to deal with the normal challenges of everyday family life. And some parents need more intensive support for the particular challenges they face. The organisations we are funding have a proven track record in supporting families and are trusted by parents. We know thousands of families want and use their services.

It’s the Government’s job to support mothers and fathers to be the best parents they can be, without interfering in family life. Online and telephone support will give them the help they need, when they need it, and in a way that works best for them.

Matt Buttery, chief executive of Family Matters Institute and co-founder of www.DadTalk.co.uk, said:

“Dads have a unique and enduring impact on the lives of their children.  We are pleased to receive Government support and recognition to continue to develop and expand a service providing high quality parenting advice and information in a dad focused format. 

At this time when families are most under pressure we are working with partners to offer dads free support and advice on antenatal issues, legal issues, debt, relationships, alcohol and paternity to name but a few.

This funding will do much to support the development of a new coaching service and enhancing our capacity to support the increasing numbers of fathers looking for high-quality trusted, help, information and advice - all available through any device connected to the net"

Notes:

Family Matters Institute operates the DadTalk.co.uk online advice and support service specifically for dads.

Further information can be found on the Department for Education website click here

I didn't quite believe the headlines on the radio as I was waking up this morning and so had to pick up a newpaper to double check.....

"Only 60 babies were adopted in England last year....... from 3,660 less than one year olds inthe care system"

Shocking statistics that need the government locally and nationally to rethink the system.  On one hand I am totally heartened that adopters are put through a tough selection process as committing to provide a permanent home and family to some of the most vulnerable children in our country is a serious task. But we really have to rethink how to speed up that system, without losing the rigour, or let down a generation of children.

Foster carers do an excellent job, but as one myself, I am always looking to find a permanent solution for any child that comes through our door.  However, with something like a third of adoptions breaking down we need to look at the whole system to ensure prospective adopters understand the reality, and that the system itself does not present unnecessary delays.

I made some comments on BBC Newcastle this morning if you want to hear more our our views or check out our DadTalk site for comment and links.

Links

Matt Buttery on BBC Newcastle at 8.40am, 29/09/11 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00kbzsf

http://www.dadtalk.co.uk/search?searchword=adoption

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/just-60-babies-a-year-adopted-in-england-2362687.html

So the Government announced over the weekend a trial offering vouchers for parenting classes to mothers and fathers of children under five. This is part of plans to increase support for parents to help them communicate better with their children, encourage good behaviour, and prevent problems developing later on. 

Family Matters Institute welcomes this initiative and the recognition of the evidence that shows parents are the single most important influence on their child's development. Parents have a lasting and positive impact on their children's emotional, physical and intellectual development, and supporting them in this crucial role is in our view the single most important task for this Government.

The trial is likely to run in three or four areas of the country. The Government hopes to encourage demand for parenting classes and reduce the stigma of asking for information, advice and help with parenting.

Around three-quarters of parents say they want more information and support to help their parenting. The vouchers will potentially benefit parents from a wide range of backgrounds, not just those who may have significant problems, like drug or alcohol abuse. Many good and able parents still need information and advice in the early years of their child's life.

Most parents will have accessed antenatal classes during pregnancy, which provide useful guidance and support. The trial will give parents similar access to parenting classes in the first five years of their child's life, so that support does not stop when their baby is born but is available right through to when their child starts school.

Children's Minister Sarah Teather said:

The Government should do all it can, without interfering in family life, to support parents to be the best they possibly can be.

The first few years of a child's life can be the toughest period for parents' relationships. And these early years are also the most crucial for healthy child development.

Parenting classes can be life-changing because they give parents the skills to manage challenging situations, give their children clear and firm boundaries and help them learn the consequences of their actions. This strengthens families and means children are better behaved, more respectful and can achieve more at school.

Increasing help, advice and support before a child reaches school age also reduces the likelihood of families needing more expensive support later on. It makes moral, social and economic sense.

The Government wants to make asking for parenting support the norm rather than the exception. The Government will work with organisations with an existing track record to test the supply and demand for universal parenting classes, as well as other products and services that support families in the earliest years of a child's life.

For More Information:

www.DadTalk.co.uk - a web based information and advice service for any man in a fathering role.

Department of Education Press release see http://www.education.gov.uk/a00198258/government-trials-parenting-classes-for-all-parents-of-children-under-five