Each May, the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) celebrates National Adolescent Health Month™ (NAHM™). This annual observance emphasizes the importance of building on young people’s strengths and potential, encouraging meaningful youth engagement in adolescent health activities, and highlighting key topics in adolescent health.

During NAHM, we can all work together to support individuals and communities working to create change that benefits young people.

Week 1: Ensure and expand access to health care, human services, and safe and supportive environments 

Creating safe and supportive environments is crucial for adolescent well-being. This involves ensuring that spaces like homes, schools, and healthcare settings positively influence their physical, mental, and emotional health. By enhancing collaboration among parents, educators, and health professionals, we can improve access to essential health services and support healthy development into adulthood.

NCSD/LEAHP Resources:  

Referral Services 

• • Toolkit: Developing a Referral System for Adolescent Health Services 
  • Part 1: Referral Systems for Adolescent Sexual Health Services 
  • Part 2: Approaches to Providing Inclusive Adolescent Sexual Health 

Telemedicine  

• • Toolkit: Adolescent Sexual Health Telemedicine Services During the COVID19 Pandemic 
  • Part 1: Delivering Adolescent Sexual Health Services During COVID-19  
  • Part 2: Adolescent Sexual Healthcare During COVID-19: Why Use Telemedicine in a ‘Post-Pandemic’ World?   

Partner Resources:

• • Webinar – Providing Family Planning Services to Adolescents During Uncertain Times 
  • Webinar – Adolescent-Centered Contraceptive Counseling: Adopting a Shared Decision-Making Model 

Week 2: Support and translate adolescent health research and improve health information and health literacy 

Enhancing adolescent health research is key to developing effective public health policies and programs that directly benefit young people. By improving access to accurate health information and advancing health literacy, we empower adolescents to make informed decisions and effectively navigate health systems. Collaboration among researchers, healthcare providers, and caregivers is essential to drive these advancements and ensure that the needs of young people are met comprehensively. 

NCSD/LEAHP Resources:  

Resources On Minor Consent for STI Services  

Partner Resources:

• • 2024 State of Sex Education Legislative Look Ahead 
  • The Importance of Access to Comprehensive Sex Education  
  • 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 
  • SOURCES OF PREVENTIVE VISIT DATA FOR ADOLESCENTS & YOUNG ADULTS – JULY 2023 
  • America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2023 
  • State-level Data Show Schools Can Facilitate LGBTQ Students’ Access to Relevant Physical Health Services 
  • Health Literacy Toolkit a companion to the Minnesota Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy 
  • 2023 Minnesota Adolescent Sexual Health Report 

Week 3: Increase youth agency, youth engagement, and support for caring adults

Engaging young people in the development of programs and policies not only enhances their leadership skills but also promotes their independence and advocacy for their health and well-being. Supportive adults, including family, educators, and healthcare professionals, play a pivotal role by providing guidance and resources necessary for youth to thrive. By actively listening and incorporating young people’s voices into program development, adults help foster a generation of informed, independent adults.

NCSD/LEAHP Resources:  

Adolescent Health External Resource Compendium 

Partner Resources:

• Advocates For Youth —

• • • Sex Education Programs: Definitions & Point-by-Point Comparison 

• School Based Health Alliance —

• • • Cultivating Parent Support 
    • Strengths Based Approaches to Adolescent Sexual Health and Being an Askable Adult 

• Sex Education Collaborative —

• • • Training Hub 
    • Sex Ed for All Month Toolkit 

• The Trevor Project —

• • • Understanding Gender Identities  

• True Colors United —

• • • Youth Collaboration Toolkit 
    • Youth Action Toolkit 

• Office of Population Affairs —

• • • Take Action for Adolescents – A Call to Action for Adolescent Health and Well-Being 

• Global Schistosomiasis Alliance —

• • • A Practical Toolkit for Young People to Advocate for Improved Adolescent Health and Well-being 

• Youth.gov —

• • • Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) 

• SIECUS —

• • • Countering The Parent’s Rights Narrative: Effective Messaging to Inspire Action 

Week 4: Eliminate disparities to advance health equity and increase coordination across systems.

Adolescents have diverse needs and require different sources of support to be healthy. By reducing the burden of disease, injury, and violence, we enable them to reach their fullest potential. We can promote health and well-being for all adolescents by addressing social determinants of health, such as economic stability and healthcare access, and by increasing coordination within and across systems like pediatric settings and social services. Collaboration can maximize resources, reduce duplication, and promote quality and transparency. Everyone, including healthcare providers, parents, and youth, can contribute to improving systems and advancing health equity.

NCSD/LEAHP Resources:  

Addressing STI Disparities Among Adolescents: A Research Review

Partner Resources:

• • Youth Homelessness Resources
  • Webinar recording – Addressing Food Insecurity with Adolescent Patients
  • Engaging Diverse Community Partners Job Aid
  • National Care Coordination Standards for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
  • Making Connections: Strengthening Care Coordination in the Medicaid Benefit for Children & Adolescents
  • Disparities and Resiliency in Adolescent Health
  • Homelessness and Housing Instability Among LGBTQ Youth
  • Implementing an Equitable Recruitment Process to Build a Diverse Partner Network