New government prevention plans on the table next year

Measures to reduce levels of educational under-achievement,
offending, antisocial behaviour, teenage pregnancy and ill-health
are to be set out in a government green paper, expected to be
published early next year.

Aiming to improve services for vulnerable children and young
people, the green paper will focus on the identification, referral
and tracking initiative, recently announced under the
Children’s Fund, and on the provision of mainstream and
specialist services. It will also look at an overhaul of existing
arrangements and services working with young people, including
social services and youth justice services, as well as the role of
schools, families and communities.

The green paper is being drafted by a new sub-committee in the
Cabinet Office, chaired by the chief secretary to the Treasury Paul
Boateng. Minister for children and young people John Denham, based
in the Home Office, will have day-to-day responsibility for the
work of the sub-committee. Denham said: “Prevention has been at the
heart of the government’s approach to tackling social
exclusion. Sure Start, the Children’s Fund, targeted services
to children in deprived areas, and Connexions are widening
opportunities to all children and families. But we have to go
further.”