Adolescent Health

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About

Adolescence, defined as ages 11 through 21, is a time of major physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. It brings opportunities for improving health and preventing disease and disability, both in the short- and long-term. Our work focuses on improving the quantity and quality of adolescent annual well visits, reducing firearm injury, exploring implementation of school-based health centers, and creating opportunities for meaningful youth engagement. We also support national work to improve the mental health of adolescents and young adults by bringing together state maternal and child health programs and clinical partners to address youth’s needs.

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News
  • Providing anticipatory guidance around emotional regulation with school age children can help them to manage their feelings as they grow and gain independence into adolescence.  The Well-Being Action Plan (WBAP) is a free tool to help clinicians provide guidance to school aged youth about emotional well-being. It is not a diagnostic tool or a screening tool but rather a conversation guide to identify coping skills and when to seek additional mental health supports . It is intended to help facilitate conversation in settings where time is limited and to provide an action-plan framework that patients and families can refer to after a health visit. 
  • The second cohort of the Adolescent and Young Adult Behavioral Health Collaboration Improvement and Innovation Network (CoIIN) is wrapping up.  Participating clinics exceeded the goal of an 80% depression screening rate at well care visits.

 

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Current Projects
Adolescent & Young Adult Behavioral Health CoIIN
Firearms and Suicide Prevention


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