Thursday 19 June 2008
Brook produces outreach guidance for professionals to support better young people’s sexual health provision
Brook has produced the first ever national guidance for professionals on developing sexual health outreach services for young people, Sexual Health Outreach – Why, What and How.
The guide was commissioned by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit to help local areas accelerate progress of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. It is aimed at those working in developing and delivering sexual health outreach services. It sets out the policy context, government strategies and targets and the practical information needed by commissioners and service providers to develop excellent local outreach.
Teenage pregnancy rates are on the decline but young people most at risk of unprotected sex, early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections are often reluctant to visit mainstream contraception and sexual health services. Developing effective sexual health outreach programmes will help Local Authorities and PCTs meet their 2010 teenage pregnancy reduction targets and achieve a reduction in the prevalence of Chlamydia among under 25s – both targets for Local Government and PCTS.
Simon Blake, Chief Executive of Brook, said: “Working with young people to meet their sexual health needs requires a relationship built on trust, confidentiality and understanding, wherever the service is based. Outreach takes place in venues that are known to the young people and that they are comfortable in.
"Outreach work builds a bridge to mainstream sexual health services and is one of the key factors for reducing teenage pregnancy rates, identified in the Teenage Pregnancy Unit ‘Deep Dive’ reviews, Teenage Pregnancy: Accelerating the Strategy to 2010. Outreach builds young people’s confidence, knowledge and self-esteem, in turn allowing them to make good decisions about their sexuality and sexual health.”
The guide includes case studies of good practice and was informed by an extensive consultation process with professionals and young people.
The guide is priced £15 and is available by contacting 0870 750 3082. Brook also runs an outreach training course, Promoting positive sexual health and relationships with vulnerable young people. For further information or to book a place please see http://www.brook.org.uk/content/z_sys_conferences.asp
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For media enquiries or copies for review please contact Natalie Collyer, Press Officer, on 020 7284 6062 or 07500 786 762
Notes
1. Brook is the UK’s leading provider of sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. The charity has more than 40 years’ experience of working with young people and currently has a network of more than 50 services in 18 areas of the England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Jersey. Brook services provide free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and outreach and education work, reaching more than 200,000 young people every year. www.brook.org.uk
For more information about the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy visit http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/teenagepregnancy/
