The government monitors levels of teenage pregnancy and conception rates through the teenage pregnancy unit which is based in the department for education and skills.
The unit also monitors what support and guidance is given to young people in respect of sexual health issues, education and multi-agency working.
The government agreed targets with the East Riding:
- to reduce the under 18s conception rate by 45% by the year 2010
- to have 60% of teenage mothers back into education and training by 2010.
Directly linked to the teenage pregnancy unit are regional and local teenage pregnancy co-ordinators. The remit of the co-ordinators is to develop strategies, which will address local issues whilst meeting the national targets.
In the East Riding work has included:
- advertising and developing local health services
- promoting and developing safe sexual health messages
- developing and expanding services, which will help provide support for teenage mums and their children
- the development of a sex and relationship education pack for all schools in the East Riding, which will help schools deliver the subject informatively and consistently across the area.
In the East Riding work is continuing to involve not only young people but also the community in the issues of teenage pregnancy and how best to address them.
Future work includes:
- looking at how to help parents talk to their children about sex
- working with boys and teenage fathers
- expanding on suitable health provisions and sites
- providing local information for young people regarding service provision.