Young people
Every Child Matters - Change for Children programme
As set out in Every Child Matters - Young People and Drugs the Change for Children Programme is an opportunity to enhance the prevention of substance misuse.
Nationally we have been working in partnership with Department for Education and Schools to ensure the implementation of Every Child Matters and the Children's Act (2004) facilitates joint working on substance misuse locally.
More information is available on the Every Child Matters programme (new window).
The following document briefly runs through the various pieces of documentation published to date and under development through the Change For Children Programme and how they reflect the young people and drugs agenda.
Guide to Every Child Matters documentation
Care Matters
The Looked After Children Green Paper 'Care Matters (new window) published on the 9th October sets out a range of proposals for improving the outcomes for young people in care. Looked-after children are more at risk from developing problems around substance misuse.
The Young People and Drugs strategy is focused on ensuring that provision is built around the needs of vulnerable children. This green paper outlines three drug related proposals on page 29 and page 80. The publication of 'Care Matters' is an important opportunity for local stakeholders to input into policy development on with at risk children. Consultation on this closes on 15th January 2007.
Press-release document (new window)
Youth Matters
The Youth Matters green paper (new window) was published and opened to consultation in July 2005. The DfES published a 'next steps' response on the 8th March 2006.
A guide to Targeted Youth Support (new window) is now available to inform local areas in the implementation of targeted youth support as outlined in the Youth Matters green paper.
Reformed Targeted Youth Support seeks to fully integrate young people's needs around drugs and alcohol and will involve Drug Action Teams and those involved in delivery of interventions aimed at preventing young people's drug misuse.
One of the target outcomes of targeted youth support reforms is to reduce substance misuse. The learning gained from existing targeted support provision, including the Positive Futures programme, will inform the further development of the targeted support.
