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Building networks of services for youth: Community collaboration to ensure healthy adolescent development

Building networks of services for youth: Community collaboration to ensure healthy adolescent development. Heidi Winig, MPH, MEd Family, Maternal and Child Health Programs Contra Costa Health Services. Objectives .

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Building networks of services for youth: Community collaboration to ensure healthy adolescent development

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  1. Building networks of services for youth: Community collaboration to ensure healthy adolescent development Heidi Winig, MPH, MEd Family, Maternal and Child Health Programs Contra Costa Health Services

  2. Objectives • To discuss how a county MCH department has implemented a plan for comprehensive adolescent health • To share creative strategies for 1) providing direct services, 2) fostering community collaboration, and 3) assessing community strengths and needs

  3. Contra Costa County, Northern CA • 9th largest population in CA • Very diverse ethnically, SES, rural and urban, immigrant status • 7.6% of the total population lives at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, most of which are concentrated in eight ZIP code areas

  4. Rate of Births To Teens Aged15-17, 1990-2002

  5. Rates of Chlamydia, by Age Group, 2001

  6. TeenAge Program (TAP) • Mission: To empower teens to take responsibility for their own health • Founded in 1977

  7. TAP Philosophy Trained Health Facilitators Youth-Friendly Clinical Services • Healthy Youth • Youth will: • Acquire important life skills • Gain knowledge about their health • Make healthy decisions • Access health services • Be involved in their communities • Know where to get support Youth Development and Mentoring Health Education Presentations

  8. Clinical Services • School Based Health Center • Richmond High School • Clinic Navigator Program • Condom Availability Project (CAP) • Education, clinic outreach and distribution

  9. Youth Development • Designed to build youth competencies to become successful adults • Positive development approach views youth as resources and builds on their strengths and capabilities • Programs aim to mobilize communities to create positive goals and outcomes for all youth

  10. Youth DevelopmentProjects • Empowerment Through Action • Two high schools and two middle schools • More than 60 youth involved in 2003-2004 • Bridge to Power • In 2003-2004, the project reached 45 youth

  11. Mentoring Projects • Strengthen the relationship between adult volunteers and participating youth to develop personal, academic, or career growth • Projects: • Pegasus • Teen Health Council • Junior Health Facilitators • Over 150 youth per year reached through these projects

  12. Health Education • Presentations: • High schools and middle schools • Juvenile Hall • Group homes • Programs and schools for pregnant and parenting teens • Foster care centers

  13. Other Strategies for Improving Adolescent Health • Alliance for Healthy Adolescents- AHA • Community Youth Focus newsletter • Youth-Full Government • Picture This photovoice project • Providing technical assistance to schools and other community partners through “train the trainer” workshops

  14. Alliance for Healthy Adolescents (AHA) 1) 1998 — FMCH Programs assembled the Community Health Assessment and Local Planning Committee to conduct the MCH Community Health Assessment and develop a Five-Year Local Plan 1999 — Renamed the FMCH Community Coalition, began implementing various projects countywide around teen pregnancy prevention

  15. Alliance for Healthy Adolescents (AHA) 2) AHA serves as a forum for inter-agency networking and information-sharing 3) Guest speakers at each meeting present on adolescent health issues in which the group has expressed interest

  16. Accomplishments • May 2000 — Coalition hosted “Meet and Greet Forum” for agencies working with pregnant and parenting teens • Based on forum, developed and distributed a resource guide of services for pregnant and parenting teens

  17. History of AHA • 2002 Planning Retreat— 20 community-based and county agencies working with adolescents participated. • One main goal that emerged was “to increase youth participation in local governance and public policy”

  18. Current Activities of AHA • Trainings for community partners • Youth involvement • Work groups focused on: • Youth Development • Health Education/School Based Services • Clinical Services/Outreach

  19. Community Youth Focus • A quarterly newsletter published by AHA • Two pages, includes articles about key adolescent health issues, current adolescent health data, a “Teen Corner,” and a listing of print and online resources

  20. Youth-Full Government • In December 2002, the California Center for Civic Participation and Youth Development awarded Contra Costa County six scholarships to attend its Youth-Full Government (YFG) Academy from February 8-11, 2003 • This four-day training provided youth and adults with skills in youth development, advocacy, local public policy, project planning, and adolescent health issues

  21. Picture This: A Snapshot of Community Health • Key Component of the Community Health Assessment • A six-week documentary photography project at Pittsburg High School • Nine youth were given disposable cameras and encouraged to photograph pressing health issues that they felt affect young people in their community

  22. Picture This (cont.) • The youth discussed and wrote stories about the photos they took at the weekly, two-hour sessions • We developed and printed a 16-month calendar (September 2004-December 2005) of the pictures

  23. “Colorful Graffiti” Erika McCauley, Age 17 Two junior high students are posing proudly in front of their colorful wall. The wall is a beautiful example of positive graffiti found in the community. It stands out! Not all graffiti is negative. Positive graffiti is not only 'cool' for students to looks at but its also eye-catching. Positive graffiti leaves no room for tagging. The picture, hopefully, will encourage more positive graffiti throughout the community.

  24. “Roots” Alana Gauthier, Age 17 The roots of this tree have come up out of the grass. It represents the past- so much unknown history that we have yet to discover. It is symbolic. The tree lets us know we can’t forget our past and where we come from. This picture can provide opportunities for youth everywhere to embrace their past and prepare for the future.

  25. Major Themes from Picture This • Urban development • More growth, more people, more overcrowding in schools, more kids after school with nothing to do • Teen recreation center needed • Promoting healthy eating and healthy living • Recognizing hazards to our health • Educating youth • Why graffiti is art

  26. Evaluation • Process evaluation • Pre/post tests and student feedback forms for class presentations • Database — to compile numbers on TAP activities • AHA member feedback forms

  27. Funding • State MCAH Branch — State General Funds, with matching federal/Title V funds. • County funding • Small grants for special projects — Picture This, Junior Health Facilitators, Empowerment Through Action

  28. Adolescent Health Priorities for 2004-2009 • Teen pregnancy among Latinas • Chlamydia rate increasing among teens, with disparities across race and gender • Maintaining basic adolescent health services

  29. Adolescent Health Priorities for 2004-2009 • Strengthening a network of existing coalitions • Securing funding from local foundations to provide trainings to adolescent health projects • Educating policymakers about the importance of adolescent health

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