The following Resources are topically linked to issues addressed throughout the Spring Edition of CityLights, Volume 15, No. 4: ADOLESCENT HEALTH. The resources related to this topic include a variety of national organizations and associations, federal programs, links to publications, tools and other types of information.
1. The National Initiative to Improve Adolescent Health by the Year 2010 (NIIAH):

http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/AdolescentHealth/NationalInitiative/index.htm  The National Initiative to Improve Adolescent Health by the Year 2010, also known as NIIAH, "NIIAH 2010," or simply, "The Initiative" is an ongoing national effort jointly initiated by two federal agencies: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health (CDC/DASH or http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/AdolescentHealth/index.htm) and the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau/Office of Adolescent Health (HRSA/MCHB/OAH ). This collaborative effort seeks to improve the health, safety, and well-being of adolescents and young adults (ages 10-24). National organizations and academic institutions have come together to form a group of working partners who maintain and further the National Initiative. CityMatCH is one of the newest members of this partnership. NIIAH's goals include elevating national, state, and community focus and commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of adolescents, young adults (ages 10-24) and their families; increasing access to quality health care, including comprehensive general health, oral health, mental health, and substance abuse prevention and treatment services; improving health and safety outcomes in the six content areas defined by the 21 critical adolescent health objectives of Healthy People 2010, (see PDF file ) which represent the most serious health issues among young people; and eliminating health disparities among adolescents and young adults, and for these age groups compared to other age groups.

21 Critical Adolescent Health Objectives of Healthy People 2010

Reduce deaths of adolescents and young adults.

Unintentional Injury

    • Reduce deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes.
    • Reduce deaths and injuries caused by alcohol- and drug-related motor vehicle crashes.
    • Increase use of safety belts.
    • Reduce the proportion of adolescents who report that they rode, during the previous 30 days, with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

Violence

    • Reduce homicides.
    • Reduce physical fighting among adolescents.
    • Reduce weapon carrying by adolescents on school property.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

    • Reduce the proportion of persons engaging in binge drinking of alcoholic beverages.
    • Reduce past-month use of illicit substances (marijuana).
    • Reduce the suicide rate.
    • Reduce the rate of suicide attempts by adolescents that required medical attention.
    • Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents with disabilities who are reported to be sad, unhappy, or depressed.
    • Increase the proportion of children with mental health problems who receive treatment.

Reproductive Health

    • Reduce pregnancies among adolescent females.
    • (Developmental) Reduce the number of new cases of HIV/AIDS diagnosed among adolescents and adults.
    • Reduce the proportion of adolescents and young adults with Chlamydia trachomatis infections.
    • Increase the proportion of adolescents (9 th –12 th grade students) who:
    • Have never had sexual intercourse, If sexually experienced, are not currently sexually active, If currently sexually active, used a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse.

Chronic Diseases

    • Reduce tobacco use by adolescents.
    • Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese. Increase the proportion of adolescents who engage in vigorous physical activity that promotes cardio-respiratory fitness 3 or more days per week for 20 or more minutes per occasion
2. "PIPPAH-3" PARTNERS:
            (CityMatCH is a Partner, but not listed here)

A. American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org/

(From their online fact sheet) The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. The AAP has approximately 60,000 members in the United States , Canada and Latin America . Members include pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists. More than 34,000 members are board-certified and called Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

The American Academy of Pediatrics was founded in June 1930 by 35 pediatricians who met in Detroit in response to the need for an independent pediatric forum to address children's needs. When the AAP was established, the idea that children have special developmental and health needs was a new one. Preventive health practices now associated with child care - such as immunizations and regular health exams - were only just beginning to change the custom of treating children as "miniature adults."

The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to attain optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. To accomplish this mission, the Academy shall support the professional needs of its members.

B. American Bar Association's Center on Children & the Law: http://www.abanet.org/child/

The American Bar Association is the nation's largest legal membership association with over 400,000 members. Within the Bar resides the Center on Children and the Law, which seeks "to improve the lives of children through advances in law, justice, knowledge, practice and public policy" Over the past 28 years, the Center has grown into a multifaceted program conducting innovative research and analysis in such areas as child abuse and neglect, child and adolescent health, juvenile court and child welfare systems improvement, missing and exploited children, and substance abuse. Its multidisciplinary staff has been in the forefront of advocating for legal reforms beneficial to children and youth. The Center has helped the legal profession focus on adolescent health-related issues through publications, training and professional collaboration. For attorneys, judges and other legal professionals to effectively promote adolescent health, they must understand the various disciplines that have contact with youth or otherwise affect policy or practice regarding adolescents. The Center disseminates information through its Child Law Practice newsletter and Health for Teens in Care: A Judge's Guide. Practitioners are reached through trainings such as the upcoming National Conference on Children and the Law (April 13-15, Cambridge, MA).

C. The American College of Preventive Medicine: http://www.acpm.org/

The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is the national professional society for physicians committed to disease prevention and health promotion. ACPM's 2,000 members are engaged in preventive medicine practice, teaching and research. Many serve on ACPM committees and task forces and represent preventive medicine in national forums, contributing to the organization's role as a major national resource of expertise in disease prevention and health promotion. ACPM was established in 1954.

D. Healthy Teen Network: http://www.HealthyTeenNetwork.org/

Healthy Teen Network is the leading national membership organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of teens and young families. Since 1979, through a national network of youth serving professionals, Healthy Teen Network has developed and disseminated resources and supports to address adolescent reproductive and parenting issues, with an emphasis on teen pregnancy, teen parenting and teen pregnancy prevention. Healthy Teen Network believes all youth can make responsible decisions regarding their sexual, reproductive and parenting behaviors if provided complete and accurate information, services and support. To that end, Healthy Teen Network's mission is to support members and constituents with tools needed to empower youth in their communities to be healthy and successful adults. Healthy Teen Network works collaboratively, using a five-pronged approach, including research and evaluation; information dissemination; training and technical support; policy and advocacy, and organizational capacity building.

This approach supports the organization's initiatives to ensure access to appropriate reproductive and health education and services for all teens, and to support teen families in attaining success.

E. National Association of County and City Health Officials: http://www.naccho.org/

NACCHO is the national organization representing local health departments (LHDs). NACCHO supports efforts that protect and improve the health of all people and all communities by promoting national policy, developing resources and programs, seeking health equity and supporting effective local public health practice and systems.

LHDs are charged with assuring the health of their communities and are uniquely positioned to initiate or support community-based adolescent health initiatives. The LHD's role in the community and its partnerships with the institutions that influence the health of adolescents facilitate this role (e.g., relationships with parents and families, schools, local policymakers, health care providers, community agencies that serve youth, faith-based organizations, media, postsecondary institutions, employers, and other government agencies). NACCHO is enhancing its infrastructure and undertaking efforts to help LHDs build capacity to promote adolescent health in their communities. NACCHO will conduct needs assessments to identify activities that best serve our members and will implement activities such as identifying and disseminating model programs and practices, providing technical and other capacity-building assistance, and sharing relevant information through a new adolescent health E-mail distribution list.

NACCHO will continue to identify successful adolescent health and youth development strategies and promote related resources through NACCHO's adolescent health distribution list, Web site, and print publications. NACCHO believes that there is untapped potential for LHDs to enhance adolescent health and welcomes the opportunity to serve our members and help move this agenda forward.

F. National Conference of State Legislatures: http://www.ncsl.org/

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a bipartisan organization serving the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on pressing state issues.

NCSL's mission is to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures, to promote policy innovation and communication among state legislatures, and to ensure state legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system.

NCSL seeks to educate key legislators about Healthy People 2010 related to adolescent health and to promote better coordination among key state legislators in the 50 states who are involved in developing policies that relate to the 21 critical health objectives for adolescent health. NCSL will help state legislators and legislative staff address adolescent health issues and plan for adolescent health services in a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary way. NCSL also seeks to promote better internal coordination between programs that currently address issues related to adolescent health and well-being.

G. National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation: http://www.nihcm.org/

The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of America's health care system. Research, policy analysis and educational activities are conducted on health care issues and dialogue fostered between the private health care industry and the public sector to find workable solutions to health system problems.

Critical decisions are made by health plan executives about the content, organization and financing of health services for adolescents. Under the guidance of the National Initiative and with the help of member health plans, NIHCM has identified adolescent health priority issues it will both promote and facilitate collaborative activities, including: prevention and treatment of chronic disease, mental health services, public-private strategies to improve adolescent health care, Medicaid/SCHIP, and encouraging adolescents' use of recommended health care services. An Adolescent Health Council comprised of health plan decision makers meets annually to discuss priority areas, emerging issues, ideas, challenges and best practices. Webinars and an annual commissioned paper share public and private sector strategies to address adolescent health priority areas.

3. RESOURCES:

A. The National Adolescent Health Information Center (NAHIC):

NAHIC was established in 1993 with funding from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is based within the University of California, San Francisco's Division of Adolescent Medicine , Department of Pediatrics and Institute for Health Policy Studies .

The overall goal of NAHIC is to improve the health of adolescents by serving as a national resource for adolescent health information and research, and to assure the integration, synthesis, coordination and dissemination of adolescent health-related information. Major activities include: promoting collaborative relationships with MCHB, other federal and state agencies, professional and research organizations, private foundations and advocacy groups; collecting, analyzing and disseminating information through short-term and long-term analyses of new policies affecting the adolescent population; and providing technical assistance, consultation and continuing education to states, communities and providers in content areas that emphasize the needs of adolescents. Throughout its activities, NAHIC emphasizes the needs of special populations who are more adversely affected by the current changes in the social environment of youth and their families.

B. MCHB Adolescent Nutrition Resources:

"Making knowledge of adolescent nutrition accessible to the vast audience who need understand, and guide parents and teenagers through the crucial adolescent years." http://faculty.washington.edu/jrees/adolescentnutrition.html

C. MCHB Adolescent Abstinence Education Resources:

http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/adolescents/abstinence.htm Community-Based Abstinence Education and State Section 510 Abstinence Education programs are now administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Family and Youth Services Bureau. Funding for the Community-Based Abstinence Education Program was appropriated to ACF in the FY 2005 appropriations bill. The Delegation of Authority to reassign the State Section 510 Abstinence Education was signed by the HHS Secretary in June 2004. ACF Family and Youth Services Bureau, Abstinence Education Division

D. The MCH Library:

This virtual library at Georgetown University provides an exhaustive, accurate and timely cluster of information including the weekly newsletter MCH Alert, resource guides, full text publications, databases, and links to quality MCH sites. http://www.mchlibrary.info/ Information is organized by issue or category.

Adolescent health categories include the following: