Title: Adolescent Health Committee
Author:
Section/SPIG: Maternal and Child Health
Issue Date:
Co-Chairs: Joyce Eatmon, MPA and Lynn Roberts, PhD
Are you concerned about the welfare of today’s youth? Do you have a burning desire to reach out and help those youth who are headed down the wrong path? The Adolescent Health Committee is just the place for you. We in adolescent health promote programs and research with the goal of improving the health status of adolescents. In keeping with the changing needs and concerns of the adolescent population, our current focus is on wellness, risk behaviors (including sexual behavior and substance use), interpersonal violence, intentional and unintentional injury, teen parenting, and school health.
Priorities for the Coming Year
1.Increase membership involvement through:
a.Regular contact with members via Adolescent Health listserv;
b.Posting info on committee to MCH Web Board;
c.Maintaining contact with State Adolescent Health Coordinators Network; and
2.Promoting adolescent health issues, i.e., wellness, risk behaviors, violence, unintentional & intentional injury, teen parenting, school health.
The Adolescent Health Committee is still looking for members and other interested parties to join our listserv. If you are interested in being a part of the listserv, please send an e-mail with your name, organization, address, phone, fax, and e-mail address to Joyce Eatmon at: <jeatmon@healthyarkansas.com>.
We also are looking for volunteers to help in drafting a resolution on the provision of comprehensive sex education for adolescents. If you are interested in helping us draft this resolution, please contact Lynn Roberts by e-mail at: <lroberts@hunter.cuny.edu>.
Annual Meeting Highlights
The Adolescent Health Committee is sponsoring three very informative oral sessions at this year’s Annual Meeting. The first oral session is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 8 from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., entitled “Adolescent Nutrition, Obesity and Physical Activity.” The presentations in this session will examine physical activity, nutrition and obesity and the factors related to these issues. On Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., our second oral session entitled “Youth Violence and Aggressive Behaviors” is scheduled. Issues and factors involved in youth violence and aggressive behaviors will be under investigation. The last oral session is a compendium of issues related to adolescent health. These issues will be presented on Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m., “Understanding Adolescents and Their Health Needs.”
The Adolescent Health Committee is also sponsoring two poster sessions. The first is on Tuesday, Nov. 9 from 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., entitled "Substance Use, Mental Health and Risky Behaviors." The second poster session is on Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., entitled “Adolescent Sexual Behavior, Teen Pregnancy & Motherhood.”
The Adolescent Health Committee Business Meeting will be held Sunday, Nov. 7 from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Please plan to join us as we make plans for the coming year, set goal and priorities and finalize plans for the resolution on comprehensive sex education for adolescents. We also will be making plans for the 2005 Annual Meeting in New Orleans.