It is very clear that professionals working with vulnerable young people are concerned for the level of engagement with services, especially in the area of sexual health. However it always feels a little out of balance with the attempt to encourage and nurture family engagement. The comment by Norman Wells, of the Family Education Trust, about children and young people being treated as "autonomous individuals rather than members of a family" struck a chord with me (CYP Now, 14-20 November 2007).
If as professionals we are willing to shy away from respecting or openly recognising parental roles why should our young people respect parents or those in parent-like roles? It gravely concerns me that in order to promote and keep the rights of a child's confidentiality, professionals appear to be willing to create a secret society with these children and a society where parents are virtually denied all access.
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