The purpose of the AHIS webinars is to provide AMCHP members with timely, relevant and interesting information related to adolescent health. The webinars may feature federal, national and state-level experiences related to adolescent health programs or policies, feature new research, or highlight solutions to common challenges.
What are Title V Programs doing to address the "A" in MCAH?
November 12, 2009
Background: Adolescence is a unique developmental period which involves significant physical, mental, social, and intellectual changes. As such, adolescence is a critical period bridging childhood and adulthood. Some of the changes young people experience on the journey to adulthood, such as an expanding social universe and identity development, can put young people at risk for negative health outcomes. This period, then, presents public health programs with opportunities to impact health promotion and prevention behaviors of young people.
Webinar Topic: This webinar featured two states’ Maternal, Child (and) Adolescent Health (MCAH) efforts related to adolescent health:
- Nebraska: Linda Henningsen and Paula Eurek discussed Nebraska’s efforts to address adolescent health within a lifespan approach.
- New York: Kris Mesler, Dan French, and Harlan Juster discussed New York’s Title V block grant performance measures related to adolescent health.
Awareness, Inclusion, and Prevention: How to Resonate with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Questioning (LGBQ) Youth about Sexual Health Issues
Presented by The National Stakeholders Collaborative*
Presenter: Elizabeth Schroeder, from Answer at Rutgers University
Objectives for this two-part webinar series were to:
- Describe at least 3 ways of adapting prevention and care programs to be more inclusive of LGBQ youth by reaching out to this population and addressing their specific needs.
- Identify at least 2 ways of addressing HIV prevention that resonate with LGBQ youth.
- Name at least 2 strategies that participants will be able to integrate into their own work.
- List at least 2 ways in which participants can address this topic in a conservative social and/or political climate.
*The National Stakeholders Collaborative (NSC) is a partnership made up of representatives from the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP), the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), and the Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (Society)
Bridging Two Worlds: Working with the Latino Community to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Improve Reproductive Health
May 27, 2009
Background:
After a 14 year decline, the U.S. experienced an increase in birth rates for teens aged 15-19[1]. Teen pregnancy and childbearing have substantial personal and social impacts, for example, teen moms are more likely to drop out of school, have a higher risk of poverty, and are more likely to have health problems. Latino populations are disproportionately affected by teen pregnancy -- 53% of Latina teens get pregnant at least once before age 20, which is nearly twice the national average[2]. Until recently there has been a steady decline in teen pregnancy nationwide, however Latina teen birth rates have declined about half as fast as non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black teens, in fact, while many populations were seeing reduced rates of teen birth, the Latino community saw increased rates in 16 states and the District of Columbia[3]. The Latino population is the largest and fastest growingminority group in the United States—by 2025, one-quarter of all teens will be Latino[4].
AMCHP sponsored the Bridging Two Worlds Webinar to:
- raise awareness of the unique reproductive health needs of Latino teens;
- provide community leaders and practitioners with selected intervention strategies and resources, and
- highlight a collaborative community approach to Latino teen pregnancy prevention.
The presentation focused on national data on behaviors and attitudes about teen pregnancy and related issues among Latinos in the U.S. and included a discussion of effective programs for reducing and preventing teen pregnancy among Latino youth.
Presenter: Ruthie Flores, Senior Manager of the Latino Initiative at National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
Ruthie Flores is the Senior Manager of the Latino Initiative at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting values, behavior and policies that reduce both teen pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy among young adults. In this capacity, she works closely with the National Campaign’s Latino Initiative Advisory Group, as well as with many national, state and community partners. She also plays a key role in developing partnerships with faith-based leaders and organizations, policy leaders, and the media. She serves as a spokesperson for Spanish-language press, including television, print, online, and radio interviews for local and national outlets.
[1] Anderson-Moore, K. Teen Births: Examining the Recent Increase. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Child Trends, October 2008.
[2-4] A Look at Latinos: An Overview of Latina Teen Pregnancy & Birth Rates. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, May 2008.