Press Release

Teens and Toddlers win award

16 January 2008

Introduction
Teens and Toddlers has recently been awarded the Children and Young People’s Services Award for Preventative Services. In addition, a recent research study undertaken by Dr Andrew McDowell of The Dream Mill and Suzanne Cater of Teens and Toddlers has shown that the programme is effective in reducing teenage pregnancy rates and influencing participants’ attitudes towards key issues such as sexual health; parenthood; and their perception of their options in life.

Background
The reduction of teenage conception rates has been prioritised by the Government, with the Teenage Pregnancy Unit (established in 1999) leading on this 10-year strategy. In 2005, for every 1,000 young women aged 15-17 in England, 41 became pregnant. Although this is a decline since 1998, teenage pregnancy remains high on the political agenda. There is marked variation throughout England in teenage pregnancy rates, with 50% of under-18 conceptions occurring in the 20% of census wards with the highest rates.

The Teens and Toddlers Programme
Teens and Toddlers is an innovative and practical youth development programme aiming to raise self-esteem, aspiration and educational attainment. It is also a teenage pregnancy prevention and sexual health awareness project. An environment is created where ‘at-risk’ teenagers (both male and female) experience a positive view of themselves through supervised work experience and developing a one-to-one relationship with a small child. Young people are selected to take part in the programme using selection criteria which has been approved and published by the DCFS (formerly DfES). The three leaning elements are:

• One-to-one mentoring of a vulnerable small child acting as a positive role model supporting their socialisation and learning
• Youth development sessions culminating in an accredited National Award in Interpersonal Skills (NCFE) and work experience.
• One-to-one life-coaching session with a trained professional. 

Winner of the Children and Young People’s Services Award for Preventative Services
In November 2007 won the Children and Young People’s Services Award for Preventative Services.

A panel of 21 adult professionals and 10 Young People judged Teens and Toddlers to be the project that has made the most effective early intervention with young people at risk of poor health and dropping out of education.

‘The project used research-based methods and had a clear vision for tackling teenage pregnancy’ (Young Judges comment)

Teens and Toddlers were also ‘highly commended’ for its contribution to young people’s health.

Recent research: Annual retrospective study of Teens and Toddlers graduates
Every year, as part of an extensive research strategy, Teens and Toddlers conducts an annual retrospective study where all past graduates are contacted via questionnaire to ascertain their pregnancy status and their opinion of Teens and Toddlers (i.e. do they think it had any effect on their attitudes to issues such as sexual health, parenthood, their options in life?).

The most recent results (November 2007) showed a pregnancy rate which is well under the national average, with no pregnancies under the age of 16. This is very positive, especially when you consider that the national under-18 conception rate is 4.1% and also Teens and Toddlers target the young people most ‘at-risk’ of teenage pregnancy.

Respondents’ attitudes towards were measured with questions designed to fit in to the Every Child Matters 5 Key Outcomes. Here are some of the key findings:

• 87% said the right age to become a parent is over 20, & 30% said over 25.
• 88% agreed that T&T helped them learn about sexual health issues such as STIs, pregnancy and deciding when to have sex.
• 92% said T&T helped them understand the need to have financial security and a stable relationship before having a child.
• 90% said T&T is the kind of project young people need to help them make good choices and stay out of trouble.
• 79% said T&T made them feel more confident.
• 95% said T&T would be beneficial for their peers.

In conclusion, the Teens and Toddlers programme seems to be very effective in influencing young people’s attitudes and actually preventing teenage pregnancy. This study found:

• Lower than expected pregnancy rates
• The teenagers had very positive views about the programme
• The teenagers felt that T&T had caused changes in their attitudes towards sexual health; parenthood; choice; and their future.

Dr Andrew McDowell said: “The findings of this study show that Teens and Toddlers is effective in influencing young people’s attitudes and preventing teenage pregnancy. The programme should be seen as a youth development programme with a focus on sexual health and behaviour, rather than just a teenage pregnancy prevention programme.”