Teen parent support programme to expand in Limerick

A SUPPORT programme for teenage parents in Limerick is to expand the help it provides to mums and dads aged in their early 20s.

Over the last 25 years, the Teen Parent Support Programme has supported around 10,000 men and woman across 10 counties.

Now, it is set to diversify its offering and instead become known as the Young Parents Support Programme (YPSP).

It means support will be provided here in Limerick to parents aged up to 24, as opposed to under 20.

It will also remain engaged for longer continuing to support the parents for the first 1,000 days of the child’s life.

The programme is coordinated nationally through child and family information and support service Treoir.

National manager Samantha Dunne said that the number of teen pregnancies has dramatically fallen in the 25 years of the TPSP, but the needs are now far greater, with more complex cases and more parents in their early 20s needing continued supports.

“The announcement of the YPSP comes following the impact of 25 years of the TPSP, which during its lifetime it expanded from covering three to 10 counties,” she explained.

She pointed out that in 1999, there were 3,135 births to parents under the age of 25 years.

That figure has now fallen to 705.

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However, other issues have arisen in the past quarter-century, she saiid, with young parents having increased mental health issues, exposure to domestic abuse, high incidences of homelessness and substance misuse issues.

“So although births to young parents have decreased, challenges, adversity and many other systemic issues can impact young parents significantly. This has led to the need to expand the age-range criteria, and support parents for a longer period of time,” Ms Dunne explained.

“The YPSP in Limerick has been a very successful programme and we looking forward to the positive impact it will continue to have from working with many more parents in the community,” she added.

The target of the YPSP is to offer services to young families in all counties across the Republic of Ireland.