Teenage Pregnancy Research Report - 3p Consulting

Tackling Teenage Pregnancy Project Focus Group Information For Service Providers 3pConsulting has been engaged by the Northern Early Years Group to undertake research in the northern region so as to better understand why so many young women in Tasmania become young parents and to facilitate a more co-­‐ordinated and strategic approach locally with the view to reducing the teen pregnancy rates in Tasmania. The Northern Early Years Group is comprised of representatives from government and non-­‐government agencies working collaboratively to improve outcomes for children aged 0 to 5 years and their families. In 2010, the Northern Early Years Group developed a strategic plan and undertook extensive community consultation to identify priority projects and teen pregnancy has been identified as a priority issue for action by the Northern Early Years Group Despite programs and resources that have sought to address teenage pregnancy rates over the years the high levels persist in Tasmania, particularly in areas that already have a greater proportion the population that are already at risk. To facilitate research for the project we will be undertaking surveys of 14-­‐18 year old students, focus groups with young parents and with service providers. We will be present the findings of the research at a Teenage Pregnancy Forum to be held in Launceston that will be open to young people, parents and all services involved with young people in the northern region. A written report detailing the findings will be completed and presented to the Northern Early Years Group. The focus group for northern service providers will provide a forum to elicit perceptions and experience of issues for young parents, motivators for continuing a pregnancy and outcomes for young families and their children, what works well and what are the gaps in service. All service providers working in the 03 area and that have interactions or run programs for teenagers and teenage parents. Feedback from the forum will be used to inform the project and its recommendations. We would really appreciate your involvement in this valuable research project. If you have any questions about the project or the survey please contact our office at 3p Consulting on 6334 7028. “This study has been approved by the Tasmanian Social Sciences Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study, please contact the Executive Officer of the HREC (Tasmania) Network on (03) 6226 7479 or email human.ethics@utas.edu.au. The Executive Officer is the person nominated to receive complaints from research participants. Please quote ethics reference number [Hxxxxx]. 136