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Supporting women faced with a Crisis Pregnancy
1. Funding programme
The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme allocated over €3.7 million in 2009 towards the provision of supports and services for those experiencing crisis pregnancy. This includes the allocation of over €2.8 million to the area of crisis pregnancy and post termination counselling and support services. The Crisis Pregnancy Programme works with 15 service providers who deliver crisis pregnancy counselling services at over 50 locations nationwide. The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has increased provision of crisis pregnancy counselling services by over 55% across the country since 2002.
2. Improving Standards in Crisis Pregnancy Counselling
The availability of training, supervision and assistance with engaging in continuing professional development is a critical component of the funding allocated to crisis pregnancy counselling services by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme.
Pilot In-Service Training Course in Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Skills
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has developed a pilot certificate level in-service training course in crisis pregnancy counselling skills in partnership with the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. This pilot training course was developed, in consultation with relevant service providers, in 2007. The course is based on the manual of good practice in crisis pregnancy counselling skills which was developed by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme, in conjunction with professional bodies and in consultation with service providers, in 2006. The course, which is set at Certificate Level 8, is delivered on a part time basis and is currently open to counsellors; either paid or volunteer professional counsellors or specifically trained volunteers, working in Crisis Pregnancy Agency funded counselling organisations.
To date 46 counsellors working in 8 out of the 14 organisations funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme to provide crisis pregnancy counselling have completed the course. The third year of the course is due to end in April 2010. A further 17 counsellors have participated in the course over the academic year 2009 – 2010. At the end of the third year 11 of the 14 service providers will have had representatives of their organisations complete the course.
The course aims to add significant value to organisation-specific training that is currently provided in the services concerned and to work to ensure that women attending crisis pregnancy counselling services receive a minimum standard of care. In addition the course aims to add further clarity and definition to the area of crisis pregnancy counselling service provision.
Toolkit: Establishing and Managing a Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service
In conjunction with the development and delivery of the in-service training course in crisis pregnancy counselling skills the Crisis Pregnancy Programme has also produced a resource for both newly established and existing crisis pregnancy counselling services. The role of this resource entitled ‘Toolkit: Establishing and Managing a Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service’ (the ‘Toolkit’) is to provide a framework and guidelines to assist crisis pregnancy counselling services with planning, management, service delivery and operational processes. Guidance and information relating to good governance, strategic planning and consistency in delivery are the pillars that underpinned the concept, development and content of the resource.
The ‘Toolkit’ is not designed as a one stop shop for service set up and delivery however; it provides information and support on a key range of topics that are relevant to crisis pregnancy counselling services, both well established and proposed. The content is based on best practice in ‘Toolkit’ development for the health sector and on the experiences of existing services funded by the Agency.
Copies of the ‘Toolkit’ are available to State funded crisis pregnancy counselling services. The aim of the course and the ‘Toolkit’ is to support the delivery of best practice in crisis pregnancy counselling in Ireland.
3. Public Communication: Crisis Pregnancy Services
Positive Options
Positive Options is the umbrella brand that promotes services offering state-funded crisis pregnancy counselling in Ireland. 14 crisis pregnancy counselling services are now promoted under the Positive Options banner. High levels of awareness of Positive Options can be seen through advertising on television, cinema, radio, washroom and ambient media. Ad campaigns coincide with times when demand for crisis pregnancy counselling is known to be particularly high. Prominent colour advertisements on choosing a crisis pregnancy service are also taken in all Golden Pages directories. For more information about the Positive Options campaign click here.
Positive Options Phase II
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme commissioned the development of a suite of resources that can be given to a woman during a crisis pregnancy counselling session. They contain comprehensive and practical information on a number of topics such as dealing with the end of a relationship, having a baby, being a parent, and returning to work and education. They were designed so that a woman knows where she can get further help, in addition to counselling, should she require it. A discreet envelope was designed so that leaflets can be stored in a confidential way.
- To view ‘What is counselling?’ click here
- To view ‘Having a baby’ click here
- To view ‘Becoming a parent’ click here
- To view ‘When a relationship ends’ click here
- To view ‘Returning to education’ click here
- To view ‘Getting into employment’ click here
- To view ‘Childcare, finding what works for you and your child’ click here
4. Post Crisis Pregnancy
Abortion Aftercare
A campaign to direct women to post-abortion counselling and medical check-ups has been running since November 2008. Advertising in women’s magazines, health information websites and social networking websites direct women to visit abortionaftercare.ie or to freetext AFTERCARE to 50444 for details of services that provide free, non-judgemental post-abortion counselling and medical check-ups.
An information leaflet with details of these services is also available in crisis pregnancy counselling services, doctors surgeries and abortion clinics in the UK and the Netherlands. To view pdf of the leaflet click here.
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General Information
Prevention of crisis pregnancy
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