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This presentation highlights the essential role of adolescent health within Title V programs, focusing on Utah’s strategic approach to address key health issues affecting youth. With a dedicated focus and staff, Utah has successfully identified and tackled critical areas such as mental health, through partnerships and robust data collection. The introduction of an Adolescent Health Capacity Assessment Tool has guided efforts, aligning resources and priorities while avoiding duplication. This commitment strives to improve adolescent health outcomes and position these issues at the forefront of maternal and child health initiatives.
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Adolescent Health in a State Title V Program 2005 Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau Partnership Meeting Nan Streeter Director, Maternal and Child Health Bureau Utah Department of Health
Adolescent Health – Why Important to Title V Programs? • Important because • Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood • Adolescence is a period of time in which developing health behaviors impact adult health which may contribute to chronic diseases • Adolescence is a period of life which brings unique challenges for youth
How Utah is Addressing Adolescent Health • In Utah, we had a staff person who served as the school nurse consultant AND the adolescent health consultant • Guess which part of her job didn’t get the attention it deserved? • We made a decision to make a commitment to adolescent health
Adolescent Health Focus • We created a position with sole focus on adolescent health • We now have been able to identify key adolescent health issues, such as mental health, etc. that we can focus on • We participated in AMCHP’s pilot testing of the Adolescent Health Capacity Assessment Tool
Utah’s Adolescent Health Capacity • Overall strong commitment to adolescent health • Strong data and surveillance • Areas needing additional focus • Partnerships • Policy and advocacy
Benefits of Capacity Assessment • Involved internal and external partners in assessment process • Helped staff focus on priority areas with input from partners • Helped tease out focus without duplicating other programs’ work • Identified areas of strength and areas needing additional work or focus
Benefits of Dedicated Adolescent Health Staff • Identification of key adolescent health issues • Utah’s Safe Haven Project – new resources • Adolescent Health Advisory Committee • Representation on internal and external committees
Partnership between AMCHP and the Network • Partnership has resulted in jointly sponsored efforts, such as the Conceptual Framework for Adolescent Health and the Capacity Assessment Tool • Keeps Adolescent Health on the radar screen for MCH