News

The second year of a Pilot Training Course in Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Skills to commence in October 2008

The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, in partnership with the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA), will deliver a second year of the pilot training course in crisis pregnancy counselling skills.

This pilot training course, that is set at Certificate Level 8, is geared towards crisis pregnancy counsellors working in services funded by the CPA and will be delivered to paid counsellors and trained volunteers over the academic year 2008/2009. The course will be delivered in two locations, Maynooth, Co. Kildare and Galway City.

The CPA funded the development of this course in addition to funding the participation of individuals working in CPA funded counselling services over the academic year 2007/2008 and will continue to support the engagement of interested participants. 31 counsellors currently engaged in CPA funded counselling services registered to participate in the first year of course delivery and the CPA is anticipating a similar level of interest in the second year.

The aim of the course is to work collectively to achieve standards of good practice in crisis pregnancy counselling and to upskill accredited counsellors and trained volunteers working in the area.

Initial evaluation results have indicated that the course is meeting the needs of participants and is working towards the standardisation of crisis pregnancy counselling skills in participating agencies.

For further information on this course please click here or contact the CPA’s Funding Officer, Sarah Ryan, on 01 814 6292 or Mary Corbally in the Department of Adult and Community Education, NUI, Maynooth on 01 718 3784.

Launch of three new sub-reports from the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (ISSHR)
11th April 2008

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) and the Department of Health and Children (DOHC) hosted a half-day seminar on findings from sub-reports of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (ISSHR), on April 11th 2008, in Croke Park.
New findings include:

• nearly one third of men and a fifth of women, aged 18-24, had sex before they were 17
• young people were more likely to report that they regretted this decision when compared to those who waited until they were older
• 16.6% of men and 14.5% of women reported that they engaged in first sex at 16
• of those who engaged in first sex at 16, 43% of women and 19% of men expressed regret at the timing, saying that they “should have waited longer”
• 14.9% of men and 7.9% of women reported that they engaged in first sex under 16
• of those who engaged in first sex under 16, 59% of women, and 37% of men expressed regret.

The seminar was well attended by over 60 stakeholders involved in healthcare, health promotion, crisis pregnancy, STI prevention, education and youth work.

ISSHR, commissioned by the CPA and the DOHC is the first dedicated study of sexual health and relationships conducted in Ireland, with a nationally representative sample of over 7,441 respondents. The main report was launched in 2006.

A presentation of key findings by the two principal investigators – Professor Richard Layte (ESRI) and Professor Hannah McGee (RCSI) accompanied the launch of the sub-reports, followed by themed workshops focusing on: ‘Designing Sexual Health Services for Proactive Sexual Health’ and ‘Promoting Sexual Understanding and Safety for Life among Young People’.

The three new sub-reports are available for download on the CPA web page:

Report 1 - Learning about Sex and First Sexual Experiences
Report 2 - Sexual Health Challenges and Related Service Provision
Report 3 - Contemporary Sexual Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours

To view a copy of the principal investigators’ presentation, click here

To view a copy of the press release, click here

Seminar Report from: ‘The Workplace of the Future: Reconciling Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment’

Research confirms that a strong link exists between workplace culture and pregnancy decision-making. Central to parents and the workplace in such situations is childcare. Workers need to be supported to allow them to combine employment with family and personal commitments; this is what underpins work-life balance. This is an issue that affects workers across the full gamut of socio-economic groups and business sectors.

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) and the Center for Gender and Women’s Studies (CGWS), Trinity College Dublin, held a joint seminar to highlight the impact that workplace policies can have on crisis pregnancy decision making and parenting. The CPA has produced a report outlining the proceedings and key messages from ‘The Workplace of the Future: Reconciling Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment’.

The seminar was opened by Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for Social and Family Affairs. Ten speakers outlined trends and evidence in the areas of economic sustainability and labour force participation; challenges to implementing flexible workplace policies and models of best practice as well as national and international policy developments in reconciling work and family life.

To view a pdf of the report and further information about the seminar please click on the link below.

The Workplace of the Future: Reconciling Pregnancy, Parenting and Employment – A report on the Seminar proceedings

New Busy Bodies booklet launched
29th April 2008

200,000 copies of a new resource for 5th and 6th class children in primary schools, their teachers and parents, will be disseminated following its launch on the 29th April in Cork.

“Busy Bodies – A book about puberty for you and your parents” was developed by a National Working Group, led by the Health Service Executive, including the National Parents Council (Primary), the National Co-ordinator of Relationships and Sexuality Education and the Crisis Pregnancy Agency. It was primarily funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency.

The Busy Bodies booklet was developed to assist with the delivery of Relationship & Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools and to assist parents to provide relationships and sexuality education in the home. It accompanies the Busy Bodies DVD that has been successfully used in primary schools since 2004.

The launch will be followed by a seminar on communicating with your child, by Dr. Tony Humphreys, Clinical Psychologist and author.

The booklet is primarily for use in schools but is also available to parents. Parents can order their copy of the booklet by freetexting BUSY followed by their name and address to 50123. To order bulk copies of the booklet, schools should contact their local health promotion department, or the HSE information line: 1850 241850.

For more information about the Busy Bodies launch click here.

To read the Busy Bodies booklet click here.

Dissemination of the ‘You can talk to me’ DVD & Booklet in the RTE Guide
28th April 2008

The 'You can talk to me' DVD and booklet will be distributed in a special parenting issue of the RTE Guide on the 28th April.

The 'You can talk to me' DVD and booklet was developed to help parents talk to their 11 - 15 years olds about sexual health and relationships. Research findings from the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (ISSHR) show that 92% of people think that young people should get sex education on sexual intercourse, sexual feelings, contraception, safer sex/STIs and homosexuality. 80% thought that it should be provided in the home. However, only 21% of men and 38% of women under 25 have received sex education in the home. Among under-25s, nearly two-thirds of men and almost half of women did not find it easy to talk to their parents about sex.

In the DVD, parents and teenagers are interviewed about talking to each other about sex and relationships. Dr Marie Murray and Dr Tony Bates give their tips to parents on starting a conversation about sex and relationships with their child.

To obtain a free DVD and booklet, freetext PARENT followed by your name and address to 50123.

To download a copy of the 'You can talk to me' booklet click here.