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Current Issues: November |
| 1. Recommendations |  |
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Community based programmes and courses on parent’child
communication should be further developed. ·
The potential of the media as a resource must be explored and
utilised to provide messages that are factually correct and deal
sensitively with adolescent issues. ·
Local directories of resources offering information, advice or
services to young people/young parents should be produced and
disseminated. PROMOTING
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY ·
Guidelines on Relationship and Sexuality Education should be
disseminated and implemented as soon as possible. ·
A specialised programme of in-service training should be developed
for teachers who are nominated to teach RSE. ·
Accredited programmes on peer education should be further
developed. Peer Education should be widely available and rigorously
evaluated. ·
Pregnant and parenting teenagers of compulsory school age must be
encouraged and enabled to remain in education. Flexible education
arrangements should be available to meet the individual needs of all
pregnanVparenting teenagers wishing to remain in education. ·
Guidelines on the pastoral care of pregnant and parenting young
people should be prepared and issued to all post primary schools as soon
as possible. · A mechanism for the funding of childcare for parenting teenagers who wish to remain in education and whose families cannot help with childcare should be considered by the Interdepartmental Group on Early Years. INVESTING
IN HEALTH ·
Community based teenage personal development programmes should be
developed based on a community development approach. Such programmes ·
A Sexual Health Promotion Strategy should be prepared with emphasis
on the needs of young people including the specific needs of young men. ·
Sexual Health Services must be tailored to the needs of young
people including young men in particular They must provide specific
sessions for young people at accessible times and locations. ·
Staff working with young people should receive training on
communicating with young people appropriate to their age and life
experiences etc. ·
Updated guidelines on the issue of confidentiality should be
developed and disseminated to all health care professionals,
administrators, educators and ·
Pregnant teenagers should receive antenatal and postnatal care in a
setting tailored to their specific needs and sensitive to their issues. ENTERING
EMPLOYMENT Initiatives
should be developed to facilitate flexible employment and employment
related opportunities for young parents. ADDRESSING
HOUSING NEEDS ·
Where appropriate, teenage mothers requiring statutory housing
should be accommodated as close to their families and communities as
possible. Access to necessary support services should be facilitated. BUILDING
ON GOOD PRACTICE ·
The existing research base related to teenage health, education and
social issues should be further developed. ·
All new interventions targeting teenage health, education and
social issues must be rigorously evaluated. A database of evaluated
interventions should be established. |
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