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The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme (formerly the Crisis Pregnancy Agency) is tasked with developing and implementing a national strategy to address the issue of crisis pregnancy in Ireland. It is a national programme working within the Children and Family Social Services Care Group in the HSE. The Crisis Pregnancy Programme works to achieve the following core objectives:
- A reduction in the number of crisis pregnancies by the provision of education, advice and contraceptive services.
- A reduction in the number of women with crisis pregnancies who opt for abortion by offering services and supports which make other options more attractive.
- The provision of counselling services, medical services and such other health services for the purpose of providing support, after crisis pregnancy, as may be deemed appropriate by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme.
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has successfully achieved its objectives since its establishment in 2001. The Crisis Pregnancy Programme, in partnership with many statutory and non-statutory organisations, has effectively contributed to reducing the incidence of crisis pregnancy and ensuring that women who experience crisis pregnancy are responded to in a caring and supportive way.
Strategy
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme is in the process of implementing its second strategy that covers the period 2007-2011. This strategy outlines the Crisis Pregnancy Programme’s plans to lead an integrated approach to reducing crisis pregnancy. The 2007-2011 Strategy focuses on 3 central objectives, derived from the Crisis Pregnancy Programme’s mandates.
- reduce the number of crisis pregnancies.
- reduce the number of woman choosing abortion as an outcome of crisis pregnancy.
- safeguard women’s physical and mental health following termination of pregnancy.
Building an evidence-based foundation
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has built up a valuable body of research on crisis pregnancy in Ireland. This research enables the Crisis Pregnancy Programme to ensure that its work continues to be underpinned by appropriate evidence about sexual health and crisis pregnancy in Ireland. The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has successfully published 28 research reports to date; this includes 3 Irish Study of Sexual health & Relationships Sub-Reports.
Improving Crisis Pregnancy Counselling in Ireland
As part of its strategic objectives the Crisis Pregnancy Programme is working to improve access to and delivery of crisis pregnancy counselling services. This work involves the development of crisis pregnancy counselling services in conjunction with initiatives to improve standards in crisis pregnancy counselling. In 2007 the Crisis Pregnancy Programme developed and rolled out a pilot certificate level in-service training course in crisis pregnancy counselling skills in partnership with the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. The third year of the course is due to end in April 2010. 17 counsellors have participated in the course over the academic year 2009 – 2010. At the end of the third year 11 of the 14 service providers will have had representatives of their organisations complete the course. The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has also developed a comprehensive information and support tool to assist with crisis pregnancy counselling service development and delivery entitled ‘Toolkit: Establishing and Managing a Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service’.
The aim of the course and the ‘Toolkit’ is to support the delivery of best practice in crisis pregnancy counselling in Ireland. For further information click here
Developing effective communications programmes
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has developed innovative and effective communications programmes. In 2009, independent market research found that awareness of the Positive Options campaign was high with 72% of the target audience recalling the advertising. The Think Contraception campaign and its messages were recognised by 80% of the target audience.
Code of Ethics
The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to articulate the principles that guide the Crisis Pregnancy Programme’s decision-making in light of its responsibilities towards its diverse constituencies. These principles will guide the decisions that are made regarding the development, funding and support of projects and the Crisis Pregnancy Programme’s research (including the research it funds). The principles will form part of the frame of reference when proposals for funding are being assessed. To view the code of ethics click here
Customer Charter
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme is committed to providing a high standard of service to our customers, both internal and external. The Customer Charter sets out the standards of service our customers can expect to receive from us. [Note: the publication of a Customer Charter is not intended to create new legal rights for customers] View Customer Charter
Environment Policy
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme strives to minimise the impact of our activities on the environment. We have developed an Environment Policy which may be viewed by clicking here
Accessibility Statement
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme follows guidelines on accessibility set out by the World Wide Web Consortium WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The sites www.thinkcontraception.ie www.positiveoptions.ie www.abortionaftercare.ie www.b4udecide.ie have been designed to meet priority 1 and priority 2 checkpoints.
Research and Policys
From the outset, the Crisis Pregnancy Programme has been committed to the use of research as a basis for understanding behaviour, assessing need, building on previous practice and promoting the use of evidence based practice and policy development. Research and policy is a key strand running through the work of the Crisis Pregnancy Programme.
The goal of the Crisis Pregnancy Programme’s Research and Policy Programme is to foster greater understanding of the contributory factors and solutions to crisis pregnancy at the individual, community, policy and societal level. Visit the Research & Policy section of the website for more details.
Funding Programme
The Crisis Pregnancy Programme's Funding Programme is the largest single component of the Crisis Pregnancy Programme's annual budget. The programme funded over 60 projects in 2009 expending over 4.3 million in funds.
These services aim to reduce crisis pregnancy, to support women during and after crisis pregnancy and support the provision of counselling and medical services. Visit the Funding section of the website for more details.
Programmes and Communications
The Programmes and Communications (P&C) function supports the Agency’s three mandates through a wide range of initiatives. The P&C function runs four national health promotion campaigns: ‘Think Contraception’ aimed at preventing crisis pregnancy, ‘Positive Options’ aimed at directing women to crisis pregnancy counselling services, ‘b4udecide’ aimed at delaying early sexual activity among adolescents and ‘Abortion Aftercare’ aimed at directing women to post abortion counselling and post abortion medical check-up services.
The P&C function has developed of a number of resources for parents; health professionals; teachers; and youth workers. Several resources have been developed to assist parents when communicating with their child/teenager about relationships and sex, for more information about these resources, click here. The ‘Key Contact’ range of resource materials has been developed for health professionals with the aim of preventing crisis pregnancy. To view a list of the ‘Key Contact’ resources, click here. The Crisis Pregnancy Programme has in partnership with the Department of Education and Science developed a Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) pack for teachers of senior cycle students in secondary schools. For more information about this pack, click here.
The P&C function works with external partners to develop and fund necessary resources that are in line with the Crisis Pregnancy Programme’s mandates. The team has funded and worked with external partners such as Treoir, Pact, One Family in the development of a variety of resources.
Recognising the work of the Crisis Pregnancy Programme
The Positive Options information campaign won a Public Service Excellence Award from the Department of the Taoiseach for innovation in creating awareness of crisis pregnancy counselling services. The Think Contraception campaign won an APMC (Association for Promotional Marketing Consultants) Award. This campaign won a Silver Star Award in the Charity and Cause-Related Category for its work in promoting the importance of using contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
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Prevention
Crisis Pregnancy Support
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