Adolescent Health
These learning opportunities are intended to assist maternal and child health (MCH) professionals in promoting the health and wellness of adolescents.
Adolescents are resources to cultivate, not a problem to fix!
—Karen Pittman, Forum for Youth Investment
Framework. Adolescent health and youth engagement are broad subjects spanning physical health, mental health, risk reduction, and systems integration—all wrapped within a public health approach to providing seamless care, health care approaches that are tailored to this population, and transition to adulthood. To put a conceptual framework on these large topics, the following learning opportunities have been organized by a crosswalk of the Bright Futures Topic Areas for Adolescents.
Table of Contents
This training spotlight has been developed in collaboration with the Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) programs, funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Trainings from the MCH Navigator
Featured Trainings
- Health for All Adolescents: What is Shaping Adolescent Health Today and How Can You Help. Year Developed: 2017. Source: American Public Health Association. Presenter(s): Evelyn Kappeler, Moderator. Type: Archived webinar. Level: Intermediate. Length: 1 hour.
- Dr. Robert Blum on Adolescent Brain Eevelopment, Epigenetics, & More. Year Developed: 2012. Source: Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Robert Blum, William H. Gates Senior Professor & Chair, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, gave a presentation as part of a panel side event during the 45th Session of the Commission on Population and Development United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC). The panel, "Laying the Foundation for Healthy and Productive Living: Prevention of Non Communicable Diseases in Adolescents and Youth," was hosted by PAHO and held at the Turkish Center in New York City on April 24, 2012.
- Adolescence: Preparing for Lifelong Health and Wellness. Year Developed: 2015. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public Health Grand Rounds). Presenter(s): Stephanie Zaza, MD, MPH; Patricia J. Dittus, PhD; Shannon L. Michael, PhD, MPH; Claire D. Brindis, DrPH. Type: Archived Webcast (Video) and Handout Level: Introductory. Length: 1 hour.
- Enrolling Eligible Children and Teens in Medicaid and CHIP Year Round. Year Developed: 2014. Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Presenter(s): Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign. Type: Archived webinar. Level: Intermediate. Length: 1:20 hours.
- Office of Adolescent Health Webinars and Webcasts Library. Years Developed: 2011-present. Source: U.S. Department of Health ad Human Services, Office of Adolescent Health. Collection of over 50 archived audio webcasts on various topics related to adolescent health. Links to additional Online Learning courses are also available.
- Partnering to Promote Health Equity for Adolescents Webinar Series. Year Developed: 2011. Source: National Institute for Health Care Management. Presentations include (webinars download as .wmv files):
- Health Disparities Through an Adolescent Lens. Renee Jenkins, MD, FAAP, Professor of Pediatrics, Howard University College of Medicine.
- Office of Minority Health's National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities. Rochelle Rollins, PhD, MPH, Director, Division of Policy and Data, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Using Social Media to Improve Adolescents' Health Literacy. Nedra Kline Weinreich, MS, Weinreich Communications.
- Creating the Foundation for Healthier Communities. Marsha Shotley, Vice President, Board and Community Relations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota; President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation.
Trainings Organized by Topic Area
- Physical Growth and Development: Physical and oral health, body image, healthy eating, physical activity.
- Social and Academic Competence: Connectedness with family, peers, and community; interpersonal relationships; school/job performance.
- Emotional Well-Being: Coping, mood regulation and mental health, sexuality.
- Risk Reduction: Tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs; pregnancy; STIs.
- How to Select an Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. Updated: 2015. Source: U.S. Department of Health ad Human Services, Office of Adolescent Health. Presenter(s): N/A. Type: Online course. Level: Intermediate. Length: Self-paced.
- Preventing e-Cigarette Poisoning among Children and Youth. Year Developed: 2014. Source: Children's Safety Network. Presenter(s): Krista Osterthaler and Mike Freiberg. Type: Webinar archive. Level: Intermediate-Advanced. Length: 60 minutes.
- Protecting Children from Tobacco, Nicotine, and Tobacco Smoke. Year Developed: 2015. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics: Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence. Presenter(s): Karen Wilson, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP and James Baumberger, M.P.P. Type: Webinar archive. Level: Intermediate. Length: 50 minutes.
- Talking to Adolescents and Young Adults About Sexually Transmitted Infections (CDC Expert Commentary). Note: Access requires log in to Medscape (free). Year Developed: 2013. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Presenter(s): Catherine Lindsey Satterwhite, PhD, MSPH, MPH. Type: Video. Level: Introductory. Length: 5 minutes.
- Unleashing the Collective Power of Communities: National Substance Abuse Prevention Month—A Webinar for Parents on Evidence-Based Strategies to Prevent Substance Use. Year Developed: 2015. Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy. Presenter(s): Wilson Compton, Ph.D. et al. Type: Archived webinar. Level: Introductory-Advanced. Length: 85 minutes.
- Webinar Series on Replicable Models of School-based Sexual Health Services for Adolescents. Year Developed: 2011. Source: National Coalition of STD Directors. Presenter(s): Various. Type: Archived webinar. Level: Intermediate-Advanced. Length: Approximately 60 minutes each. Four webinars focused on state efforts to support school-based reproductive and STI services.
- Widening Our Lens: Co-Occurring Risk Behaviors During Adolescence. Year Developed: 2015. Source: U.S. Department of Health ad Human Services, Office of Adolescent Health. Presenter(s): Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Ph.D., Jaclyn Ruiz (moderator). Type: Archived audio, slides, and transcript. Level: Intermediate. Length: 60 minutes.
- Violence and Injury Prevention: Safety belt and helmet use, substance abuse and riding in a vehicle/driving, guns, interpersonal violence (fights, dating violence, stalking), bullying.
- Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention. Year Developed: 2015. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Presenter(s): N/A. Type: Online course. Level: Intermediate. Length: Self-paced.
- Intimate Partner Violence Among Expectant and Parenting Youth: Prevention, Identification, and Intervention. Year Developed: 2015. Source: U.S. Department of Health ad Human Services, Office of Adolescent Health. Presenter(s): Nadine Finigan-Carr, Jaclyn Ruiz (moderator). Type: Archived audio, slides, and transcript. Level: Intermediate. Length: 60 minutes.
- The National Action Plan for Child Injury Prevention (4 Part Series): Data and Surveillance | Communication | Policy | Education | Training. Years Developed: 2013-2014. Source: National Association of County and City Health Officials. Presenter(s): Various. Type: Archived webinar. Level: Introductory-Advanced. Length: Approximately 60 minutes each.
- What To Do About Bullying?: Key Prevention Strategies for Health Departments. Year Developed: 2016. Source: Children's Safety Network (CSN). Presenter(s): Cynthia Minkovitz, M.D., M.P.P., Erin Reiney, M.P.H., CHES, and Susan Limber, Ph.D. Type: Webinar archive. Level: Intermediate. Length: 60 minutes. Part of CSN's Webinar Series.
- Youth Violence Prevention: A Public Health Approach. Year Developed: 2014. Source: Children's Safety Network (CSN). Presenter(s): Howard Spivak, M.D. and Sarah Bacon, Ph.D. Type: Webinar archive. Level: Intermediate. Length: 60 minutes. Part of CSN's Webinar Series.
- Stop Bullying: Bullying Prevention Training Center. Year Developed: N/A. Source: U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Presenter(s): N/A. Type: Online courses. Level: Introductory - Intermediate. Length: Self-paced.
- Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE). Year Developed: N/A. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Presenter(s): N/A. Type: Online course. Level: Intermediate. Length: Self-paced.
- Adolescent Health Systems Building and Transition to Adult Care: Assessing, strengthening and and coordinating systems for adolescent health at the state level.
- Frameworks: Theories that apply a holistic view and resiliency thinking to adolescent health.
- Adolescence: Preparing for Lifelong Health and Wellness. Year Developed: 2015 - 2019. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public Health Grand Rounds). Presenter(s): Phoebe Thorpe, MD, MPH; Stephanie Zaza, MD, MPH. Type: Recording Archive (Video). Level: Intermediate. Length: 60 minutes.
- Beyond the Data (Same page as above; see second tab on web page). Year Developed: 2015. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public Health Grand Rounds). Presenter(s): Phoebe Thorpe, MD, MPH; Stephanie Zaza, MD, MPH. Type: Recording Archive (Video). Level: Intermediate. Length: 10 minutes.
- Cultural Responsiveness. Year Developed: 2022. Source: University of Michigan Adolescent Health Initiative. Presenter(s): Multiple. Type: Recording Archive (Video). Level: Intermediate. Length: varied; see videos on portal page.
- Adolescent Health Care: Transforming health care and public health systems to better serve adolescents and young adults.
- Strategic Planning: State adolescent health strategic plans and products.
- Youth Engagement
For additional learning opportunities in topics not listed here, see the Search page to search by competency or keyword.
Resources developed by NCEMCH
Adolescent Health: Training Spotlight
Authors: Jolene Bertness, MEd, CHES and John Richards, MA, AITP, MCH Navigator