Welcome to the May 2009 issue of the Family and Parenting Institute's newsletter – Family Focus. To subscribe to this newsletter click here
1. News
2. Family Policy Digest
3. Horizon scan
4. Forward look
5. Notice board
6. Consultations

News

Child poverty

The number of children in poverty in the UK has not changed according to the latest Households Below Average Income figures (HBAI) prompting government ministers to say that meeting the target to halve child poverty by 2010 would be "very difficult."
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The 2009 Budget from the Treasury saw a £20 a year increase in the child element of the child tax credit which is to help families on a low income.
ECP

Health visitor postcode lottery

The Family and Parenting Institute has identified a huge disparity in the number health visitor numbers across the country. Our new report 'Health visitors - a progress report' shows that there is a postcode lottery with some Primary Care Trusts having one health visitor for 165 children, while others have one health visitor for nearly 900 children.
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Child protection

The Local Government Association has revealed that three out of five councils are experiencing difficulties in recruiting children's social workers.
LGA

The Government unveiled a £58 million six point plan to improve child protection services in this country on May 6. The action plan outlines a recruitment drive targeting social workers who may have left the profession and the sponsorship of 200 university places from September so graduates from any discipline can sign up to do a conversion course to go into the social work profession.
DCSF

New statistics from CAFCASS show that since November 2008 there has been a significant growth in care applications by local authorities.
CAFCASS

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Family Policy Digest

This month's digest includes the conclusions from independent reviews of the primary curriculum research on the consequences of making PHSE compulsory; research on aspects of safeguarding children; and our review of the impact of recessions on family relationships.
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Horizon Scan

Legislation

The Child Poverty Bill will be published later this month.

New reports

The Family and Parenting Institute will officially launch its new report series on Parenting Services: Filling in the Gaps on June 2.
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Also a new pack for parents of children aged from birth to five is arriving in children's centres and family information services in early June. The pack Your child's early learning and care: birth to five provides eight different types of booklets and leaflets to give parents the information they need to find high quality childcare which is right for their child and information on straightforward, free things they can do which make a huge difference to their child's learning and understanding.
Every Child Matters

Elections

The County Council and European elections are next month. They will both take place on June 4.
European Parliament

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Forward Look

Visit our calendar to find out about the latest events happening, including an event run by Professor Angie Hart and Dr Derek Blincow called 'An Introduction to Resilient Therapy' which takes place on June 26.
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Notice board

Early Home Learning Matters

A new website has been launched by the Family and Parenting Institute to help parents kick start their young children's learning. www.earlyhomelearning.org.uk provides tips to parents, advice to practitioners who work with parents and information for organisations that would like to set up a service on early home learning for parents.
Early home learning

Parents' Week

The Family and Parenting Institute's tenth Parents' Week will run from Monday October 19 through to Sunday October 25. The theme will be 'The Changing Face of Families'.
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Children's rights

The Council of Europe is holding a launch meeting on its platform for children's rights on June 2-3.
Council of Europe

Relationships Matter

Newcastle University and the Family and Parenting Institute are running a DCSF research project looking at what poses the greatest threats to couples in all kinds of relationships and at different life stages. People of all ages and in all walks of life are invited to take part during 2009. Currently the project is looking to hear from couples who are in a relationship that is in difficulty or breaking down.
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Consultations

Consultations due to close in May and June include a Home Office consultation about violence against women and a consultation from the DCSF about young people who are at risk of gang related violence or crime.
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Emma Brennan Press & PR Officer
www.familyandparenting.org
May 2009
Current subscribers – 14362
Family Focus is published monthly

Last updated: 14th May 2009 at 01:05:32