CYP Now - Policy & Practice: Policy into practice - Role of teenage fathersshould not be ignored

With the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe, emphasis is again on the need to both reduce the numbers and support young mothers in the UK. But while teenage pregnancy strategies and integrated working through children's centres and health services are doing much to engage the young mothers walking through their doors, many young fathers are overlooked, negatively stereotyped and unsupported.

Research highlighted by Fathers Direct shows that when both parents areunder the age of 17, just two per cent of fathers are still in regularcontact with their child after nine months. The research also shows thatchildren born to teenage mums, among the most vulnerable of allchildren, do significantly better in later life if contact with theirfather is increased.

The national evaluation of the Sure Start Plus programme, which hastargeted young parents over the last five years, showed that teenageparents benefit most from intensive personal support backed up byco-ordinated support.

But it also highlights the difficulty in engaging with young fathers andthat urgently needs to be done. Young fathers are also faced withcommonly held negative attitudes by both public and professionals whobrand teenage dads as too irresponsible and immature to be successfulrole models to their children.

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