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15 May 2007
CAB 035–07
Professor Olds from the University of Colorado marks his visit to England with a speech at the RSA tonight. A pioneer in devising new approaches to early intervention in the first few years of a child's life, Professor Olds will discuss in detail his work and experiences. This includes the Nurse Family Partnership, a programme he established in the US and has been developing for over 25 years and which is now being piloted in England.
In the US, the programme has been proven to improve women's pre–natal health, reduce child abuse, neglect and injuries, improve readiness for school and reduce adolescent crime, behavioural problems and substance misuse. It has been shown to save $5 for every $1 spent.
Professor Olds will say:
“After three decades of developing and conducting scientifically controlled studies of the Nurse Family Partnership, we are now confident that this programme can help vulnerable new parents and protect and promote the health and development of their children, with lasting effects on their lives.
“I am very pleased that this model of intervention is now being piloted in England. It is a great opportunity to learn more about how young, first time mothers can effectively meet the exciting challenges ahead.”
Joining Professor Olds on the platform will be Social Exclusion Minister Pat McFadden. He will outline the Governments wider commitment to early intervention and actions put in place in supporting the most excluded since the launch of the Social Exclusion Action Plan last autumn.
Pat McFadden will say:
“We have had much success in combating poverty in the past decade. We have 600,000 fewer children in poverty. 2.5 million more people in work. And the incomes of the poorest 20% of people have risen at a faster annual rate than the richest 20%.
“But not all have shared in this progress. We know that the early months and years of a child's life are absolutely vital in shaping life chances. It is not an iron rule, but it will have a strong bearing on what happens later in life. And that emphasis on the very earliest months and years – indeed the importance of the period before a baby is born – is one reason we became interested in the work of Professor Olds and the experience of the Nurse Family Partnership in the United States.
“There is powerful evidence that poverty, poor attachment, stress during pregnancy, poor maternal health, post–natal depression and harsh parenting styles are strongly associated with poor outcomes later in the child's life such as anti–social behaviour and low educational outcomes.
“If we know about the importance of the early months and years of a child's life, and we know about the cycle of disadvantage that can be passed from generation to generation, cutting off opportunity and aspiration, and we know we have a programme that offers a lot of promise in challenging this pattern, then it would be wrong to turn away from that”
Kate Billingham, Government Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, will also be speaking. She will discuss the trial of the programme in the UK and the ten areas in which they are being piloted.
Kate Billingham will say:
“The Nurse Family Partnership programme has the potential to transform both the life chances of our most disadvantaged children and the services we provide for all families with young children. It is a privilege to work with David Olds and his team and to have the opportunity to test this exciting programme in this country.”
Chaired by Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive RSA, the speeches will be followed by a Q and A with stakeholders in the audience.
Ends
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