Public health initiative at a young offenders institute.

One in four of prisoners aged 17 to 21 are fathers, often with limited experience of positive parenting themselves. The men in Aylesbury Young Offenders Institute were found to have pride in fatherhood and during parenting classes expressed a desire to become actively involved in the care of their children. They stated that they felt they needed to learn parenting skills with their partner and family rather than in isolation from them. Health visitors were involved with parenting classes in the prison education block and helped the fathers develop joint parenting skills through a family oriented weekly clinic enabling 'shared care' of their children in preparation for their release back into the family unit. Imprisoned fathers and members of the extended family meet with the health visitors who facilitate learning around positive parenting. The clinics also provide an opportunity to discuss assumptions about teenage fathers and have paradoxically helped to dispel common myths (often held by practitioners) that young fathers lack commitment to their children. This programme we hope can begin to positively address early determinants of poor health within families that experience multiple deprivation.