Children's minister Beverley Hughes has announced plans to extend the Family Nurse Partnership pilot scheme.
The US-originated scheme, which supports disadvantaged young parents from pregnancy until their child is two, is already being piloted in 10 areas across England. Under plans announced by Hughes, the scheme will be rolled out to 20 more, reaching a total of 3,000 families by March next year. A bidding process for PCTs and councils has been launched.
This latest announcement follows a government pledge last November to invest £30m in the scheme over three years.
Hughes said: "The case histories and reports coming back suggest very positive, and sometimes dramatic, effects."
