Welcome to July's 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

1. News

Modern Motherhood

The Family and Parenting Institute and the Open University held a one-day conference on the subject of modern motherhood on Wednesday 2 July 2008. The conference included the launch of FPI's new discussion paper Listening to Mother and also reports on the findings of two new research studies undertaken by the Open University which have looked at becoming a mother in the 21st century .
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The Department for Work and Pensions has published Maternity rights and mothers' employment decisions.
Mothers were more likely to take over 26 weeks maternity leave; if: they and/or their partner had a higher income; they worked for a large employer; they worked in the public sector.
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifDWP

Early years

Local authorities must work with voluntary and community sector organisations to boost children's early learning - because they have the specific skills that councils don't.That was one of the crucial issues highlighted by Beverley Hughes, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, at the Early Learning Partnership (ELPP) conference on Wednesday June 25.
The conference also saw the launch of the University of Oxford's DCSF research evaluation report on the ELPP.
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The Family Nurse Partnership programme is helping to improve the life chances of vulnerable babies, young children and their families according to new research by Birkbeck College on behalf of the DCSF and the Department of Health.The main findings of the evaluation show that the programme is widely welcomed by hard to reach families and reaches those likely to benefit most.
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Family finances in the headlines

Family debt has doubled in one year.
Britons said they were feeling the pinch due to high petrol and
food prices
A minimum income standard for Britain.
New help for people managing money worries
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Children with speech problems

Children's secretary Ed Balls and health secretary Alan Johnson publish Conservative MP John Bercow's report on services for children with speech problems. The report warns that in disadvantaged areas up to 50 per cent of children have problems speaking in full sentences.
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifDCSF

Sex education

Brook - the national voluntary sector provider of free and confidential sexual health advice and services for young people - believes that sex and relationships education should be a statutory entitlement for all children and young people at primary and secondary school.
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifBrook

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Family Policy Digest

This month's digest contains government plans on carers, young runaways, joint birth registration and young people and alcohol. It also has guidance for commissioners on using research evidence, and evaluations of projects including parent support advisers, transition information sessions and the Early Learning Partnership Project.
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Horizon Scan

Young people

The Youth Crime Action Plan is due to be published
Folowing the recent Youth Alcohol Action Plan, there will be a further consultation with parents and others to finalise the guidelines in the autumn. Following this, advice and guidance will be issued for parents in early 2009.
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Equality and Human Rights

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is to launch a consultation exercise called Home Front: What do mums and dads need to make life work?
Home Front will be a high profile on-line national debate about the needs of mothers and fathers balancing paid work and caring in the early years of a child's life and what can be done to make that balance work for all. It will be launched at an event on 14 July.
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifEmail for further details Icon: Email address

The Government will publish a paper this month expanding further on its proposals for the Equality Bill. Throughout the next few months it will also look at whether the law can be changed to give redress to people who suffer discrimination on multiple grounds and will work with the Trade Unions to strengthen the role of Trade Union Equality Reps.
Harriet Harman outlined the current proposals in a speech to the House of Commons on June 26.
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifGovernment Equalities Office

Parliament recess dates

Summer 22 July 2008 - 6 October 2008
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Forward look

Check here for upcoming events in the family and parenting world. Please let us know of your forthcoming events so we can include them.
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Notice board

Centre for Excellence and Outcomes (C4EO) in children's and young people's services

FPI will be recruiting parents and carers for an advisory group whose view will have a direct influence on what C4EO does.
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Homes Fit for Families

This paper explores how children and families are affected by their physical environment, both in their home and their immediate neighbourhood. It suggests policy solutions to ensure housing is fit for families.
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Parenting 'mixed' children: negotiating difference and belonging in mixed race, ethnicity and faith families

Chamion Caballero, Rosalind Edwards and Shuby Puthussery
The JRF report aims to provide insights about parenting mixed children to inform debates about family life and professional strategies for support.
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Assessing the impact of the commercial world on children's wellbeing A response from the Family and Parenting Institute

FPI's response to Professor David Buckingham's review of the impact of the commercial world on children's wellbeing.
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Nominations are now open for The Philip Lawrence Awards 2008.

The Philip Lawrence Awards reward outstanding achievements in good citizenship by young people aged 11 to 20.
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifPhilip Lawrence Awards

Brook poll…

Do you agree that Government must ensure that all children and young people get education about puberty, relationships and sex at primary and secondary school?
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Consultations

Fair Play: A consultation on the play strategy. A commitment in The Children's Plan

'Fair play', the national play strategy, expands on measures previously announced in the Children's Plan, including £235m to be invested over the next three years to develop up to 3,500 public play areas.
Deadline: 18 July 2008
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifDCSF

Tax credits: improving delivery and choice - a discussion paper

This paper sets out options for reforming the tax credit system, in particular to avoid problems associated with overpayments.
Deadline: 5 September 2008
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifHM Treasury

Draft Charter for Bereaved People

The Charter for Bereaved People brings together many of the services bereaved people will receive from coroners in a reformed system. This is a final opportunity to give views before the draft charter is again put before Parliament alongside the Coroners Bill.
Deadline: 10 September 2008
Image: Images/arrow_blue_small.gifMinistry of Justice

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Suzie Peleg Information and Website Manager
www.familyandparenting.org
July 2008
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Last updated: 12th August 2008 at 03:08:26