MINNESOTA
DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH
DID YOU
KNOW?
Adolescent Health ENews
N O V E M B E R
•
of teens on
“decoding” teen
culture and parenting. Great resources for everyone that works with
teens, not just parents of teens!
Check it out at
http://
decoder.drugfree.org
•
Did you miss the
webinar The Real
Costs of Teen
Motherhood? A
recording of the
event will be online.
Check out http://
www.urban.org/
events/index.cfm
for more information.
•
2 0 0 8
A blog for parents
Connecting with Youth through Social Networking
H
ave you been wondering
how your organization
could connect with adolescents
in your community through social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace? Would you
like some good examples? Dakota County Public Health has
launched a new public health
campaign to reduce secondhand
smoke exposure and tobacco use
among youth. Check out this
website for more information:
http://www.respectmyride.org/
book and MySpace to promote
their message. Contact Mary
Montagne at Dakota County
([email protected].
us 651-554-6119) for more information. They also recommended
the following websites as good
resources if you’re considering
expanding your outreach to
youth.
Social Networking in Plain
English:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=6a_KF7TYKVc
How To Use Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/5phtaz
How to Make Your Own
MySpace Page:
http://tinyurl.com/3umlvu
A
re you already doing
this? If so, how’s it
working? Let me know…
Besides having a traditional website affiliated with the campaign
(above), they’re also using Face-
[email protected]
DHS is starting a
new campaign to
curb teen drinking
through research
about peers using a
program originally
developed in Montana called “Most of
Us”. Check out this
website for more
information on
what the campaign
looked like in Montana, http://
www.mostofus.org/.
Adolescent Health Research
Research article: “Stressful
Life Events and Disordered
Eating Behavior: Findings
from Project EAT”
A study by our very own University of Minnesota found an association between psychosocial
stress and disordered eating
among adolescents. An article in
this months Journal of Adolescent
Health (Loth K., van den Berg P.,
Eisenberg ME., Neumark-Sztainer
D. 43: 514-516) “Stressful Life
Events and Disordered Eating
Behavior: Findings from Project
EAT” describes their results.
“Associations between stressful
life events and disordered eating
behaviors were examined in 1708
older adolescents. Stressful life
events were positively associated
with extreme weight control
behaviors and binge eating in both
male and female respondents,
emphasizing the importance of
screening for disordered eating
behaviors among adolescents who
report experiencing stressful life
events.”
Another article out of the University of Minnesota,
“Measuring Neighborhood
Connection and the Associa-
tion with Violence in Young
Adolescents” (Widome, R.,
Sieving RE., Harpin SA., Hearst
MO. Journal of Adolescent
Health, 2008, 43: 482-489), found
that middle-school youth’s
“intentions to contribute to their
neighborhoods were linked to
lower levels of violence involvement.” This perhaps captures just
some of the strength of the
school based service learning
program for middle-school students called Lead Peace which is
happening in Minneapolis
neighborhoods through the Prevention Research Center at the
University of Minnesota.
PAGE
2
Research continued
A
New Research
Brief: Sexual and
Reproductive Health Behavior Among Teen and
Young Adult Men: A Descriptive Portrait
From MCH Alerts, 10/17/08
“As young
people
This brief “draws on the male
data file from the 2002 National
Survey of Family Growth to
present a descriptive portrait of
reproductive health behaviors
among U.S. adolescent and
young adult males (ages 15-24).
The research brief, published by
Child Trends, examines survey
results on several dimensions of
reproductive health by age and
by race and ethnicity. Topics
include sexual experience and
activity, use of reproductive
health services, condom use and
contraceptive use, and fertility.
The brief is intended to help
health professionals, policymakers, and parents learn more
about the circumstances of
males in the adolescent and
young adult years. The brief is
available at http://
www.childtrends.org/Files//
Child_Trends008_10_07_RB_MaleRepro.pdf.
New Report from the National Campaign: Report
Sheds Light on Patterns
and Trends in the U.S.
Adolescent Birth Rate
From MCH Alerts, 10
navigate the
Teen Births: Examining the Recent
Increase reports on data (the
number of births to adolescents
and the adolescent birth rate) and
considers available evidence on
whether and why the adolescent
birth rate rose between 2005 and
2006. The report, published by the
National Campaign to Prevent
Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy in
collaboration with Child Trends,
raises data and research issues and
suggests the need for continued
research to strengthen public and
private prevention efforts. Topics
include factors that may have
contributed to an increase in the
adolescent birth rate. The report
is available at
http://
www.thenationalcampaign.org/
resources/pdf/
TeenBirths_ExamIncrease.pdf.
changes of
adolescence, it is
critical that they
receive the guidance,
support, and
encouragement that
fosters healthy
development.”
- Minnesota’s
Adolescent Health
Action Plan
Conferences and Trainings
N
ovember 12-13,
2008
It’s That Easy! Helping
Parents Learn to Raise
Sexually Healthy Children
PRICE REDUCED
November 12-13, 8:30 a.m.–
4:00 p.m.—Ramsey County
Public Works, Arden Hills
Looking for tools to
encourage parents/
caregivers that you
work with to embrace their role as
the primary sexuality
educator of their
children? The It’s
That Easy! training is designed for professionals who
ADOLESCENT
HEALTH
ENEWS
work with parents/
caregivers of children birth
to 18 and offers tools and
techniques to engage parents/caregivers in developmentally appropriate approaches to raising sexually
healthy children. Topics
include attachment and parent-child connectedness,
stages of sexual development, sharing family values
on sexuality and healthy
relationships, and influences
of media and popular culture. Participants receive the
It’s That Easy manual for
implementation in their
communities.
For more information, see
the event flyer and registration form. Questions? Contact Jocelyn Broyles at 651-
644-1447 x19,
[email protected].
J
anuary 12–13, 2009
Minnesota Fatherhood Summit
St. Cloud Civic Center, St.
Cloud
Join MFFN for their 6th annual winter conference for
professionals working in
fatherhood programs, early
childhood settings, public
health, government agencies
and related family/social
service organizations. For
more information, visit
www.mnfathers.org or call
651-222-7432.
PAGE
3
More Conferences and Trainings
S
hutting off the Tap
to Teens
U
December 4th~ Please join us
“Change
society’s view of
adolescents to
for the annual Shutting Off the
Tap to Teens conference,
which focuses on preventing
underage drinking in Minnesota. Our keynote presenter,
Pete Schuermann, will discuss
his observations of high-risk
drinking in college settings.
There will also be two panel
discussions on policy approaches being used in communities across the state.
Detailed workshop and registration information is available
at the Minnesota Prevention
Research Center (MPRC) Web
site at <www.emprc.org>. For
more information, please contact Kevin Spading, director of
the MPRC, at
<[email protected]>.
see youth as
resources rather
than as problems
to be fixed.”
- Minnesota’s
Adolescent Health
Action Plan
nderstanding
Grief & Loss with
Adolescents
Loss is a part of life and occurs
in the lives of children and
adolescents. Grief (or how we
cope after a loss) is often more
traumatic and severe for an
adolescent than an adult. The
outcome of grief is less predictable and may be more
emotionally crippling because
the young person is in the
process of building a foundation for emotional growth and
developing coping strategies.
This workshop will provide
strategies to help young people
and families cope with the
“loss” we will all experience in
our lives.
Date: 12/2/2008
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Cost: $55
Location: Moorhead
Courtyard by Marriott
1080 28th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN
56560-4406
For more information:
Kari Robideau
218/236-2013
[email protected]
Registration: http://
www.extension.umn.edu/
YouthWorkInstitute/
#workshops
Audience: Professional youth
workers, youth program administrators, and volunteers
Resources
N
ew National Physical
Activity Guidelines
Released~ New national
physical activity guidelines,
Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans, were released in
October 2008 by the U.S.
Dept. of Health and Human
Services. Visit www.health.gov/
paguidelines to access
all materials pertaining
to the guidelines including frequently asked
questions and a toolkit
for organizations and
communities. Key
guidelines for active
children and adolescents are located at
ADOLESCENT
HEALTH
ENEWS
http://www.health.gov/
paguidelines/guidelines/
chapter3.aspx
H
ighlights from the
November PBS “In
the Mix” Schedule
Nov 22 NATIVE AMERICAN
TEENS: WHO WE ARE
What's it like to be a young
Native American today? Teens
from throughout the United
States share their stories in
this "In the Mix" special cohosted by rap star and film
actor Litefoot. Shot around the
country, the program features
a champion lacrosse player
from western New York, a
Grammy-nominated flute
player from rural Idaho, and
short films made by teens in
Alaska and Washington State.
A group of young leaders from
cities and reservation also
weigh in on the issues that
affect them everyday-common
misconceptions and stereotypes about Native Americans;
how they balance traditional
culture with contemporary
concerns; and their hopes for
the future.
PAGE
4
Grants ~ The following grants are NOT administered by MDH!
2
1st Century Community Learning Centers–
Cohort 4 Grant Competition
http://education.state.mn.us/
PAIEGMS/searchGrants.do?
command=allactive
The Minnesota Department of
Education is pleased to announce the 21st Century
Community Learning Centers
(21st CCLC) –Cohort 4 grant
competition. Approximately $3
million is available to establish
or expand high-quality afterschool programs that offer a
broad array of services and
activities designed to reinforce
and complement the regular
academic program of participating students before and
after school, on school release
days, weekends and school
vacation periods.
Examples of agencies and organizations eligible to apply for
a 21st CCLC grant include, but
are not limited to: schools,
school districts, non-profit
agencies, city or county government agencies, faith-based
organizations, institutions of
higher education and for-profit
corporations.
Eligible applications must include a collaborative between
a school or school district, and one
or more community-based organizations, faith based organizations or
other public or private entities.
Applicants must primarily serve
youth who attend high poverty
schools or schools eligible for Title
I schoolwide programs.
The application packet and a link to
a WebEx recorded presentation of
the 21st Century
Community Learning Centers Cohort 4 Grant Application Workshop is available here:
http://education.state.mn.us/
PAIEGMS/searchGrants.do?
command=allactive
Grants Continued...
(21st Century Community
Learning Centers, continued from above) The direct
link to the WebEx presentation is:
https://mde.webex.com/
tc0409l/trainingcenter/record/
navRecordAction.do?
siteurl=mde&firstEnter=1
Applications must be postmarked by a U.S. Post Office,
personally delivered to the
Minnesota Department of
Education, or submitted to a
delivery agent for delivery on
or
before December 23,
2008.
Submit all questions and
requests for additional
information via email only
to the following
email address: [email protected]
ADOLESCENT
HEALTH
ENEWS
US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration -- Young Parents
Demonstration Program
The U.S. Department of
Labor, Employment and
Training Administration’s
Young Parents Demonstration Program is designed to provide educational
and occupational skills training
leading to family economic selfsufficiency for both mothers
and fathers, and expectant
mothers ages 16 to 24. Projects are to serve young parents, including those in highrisk categories such as victims
of child abuse, children of incarcerated parents, courtinvolved youth, youth at risk of
court involvement, homeless
and runaway youth, Indian and
Native American youth, mi-
grant youth, youth in or aging
out of foster care, and youth
with disabilities.
Approximately five to seven
grants will be awarded, with
individual grants ranging in
value from $500,000 to $1
million. Applicants must submit
a letter of commitment from a
Workforce Investment Board.
Deadline: November 17, 2008
Contact the U.S. Department
of Labor, Employment and
Training Administration directly for complete program
information and application
guidelines:
http://
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/
E8-23319.htm
A Vision for Healthy Adolescence:
Our responsibility as the community of Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health
Jennifer O’Brien
Adolescent Health Coordinator
Minnesota Department of Health
P.O. Box 64882
is to support and guide Minnesota youth in the
healthy development of being, belonging and becoming. This requires a focus on wholeness and
wellness, and seeing Minnesota youth as “at
promise” rather than “at risk”.
St Paul, MN 55164-0882
Phone: 651-201-3627
Fax: 651-201-3590
E-mail: [email protected]
For more information on Minnesota’s Adolescent Health Action Plan, contact Jennifer
O’Brien or go to the Adolescent Health Gate-
http://www.health.state.mn.us/youth/
way page.