MINNESOTA
DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH
DID YOU
Adolescent Health E News
KNOW?
O C T O B E R
•
Family dinner frequency is positively
associated with
eating breakfast
and fruit consumption (page 1)
•
The number of HIV
cases among Minnesota youth is
almost double
compared to the
same time frame in
2008 (page 1)
•
75% of teens use
test messaging
daily, and prefer
communicating
through text message versus email
(page 2)
•
The Youth Performance Company introduced
two DVDs to supplement health and
education programs (page 4)
•
The Center of
Leadership Education in Maternal &
Child Public Health
has launched their
new website (page
4)
2 0 0 9
Benefits Associated with Family Meals
A study by Jayne Fulkerson and
colleagues from the University of
Minnesota School of Nursing and
School of Public Health examined the benefits associated with
family meals among youth who
attend Alternative High Schools
(AHS).
By collecting surveys and anthropometric measures from 145
students across six schools, the
researchers assessed whether
the associations between family
meal frequency and dietary practices, overweight status, and
psychological well-being are present among an at-risk population
of youth.
quency and fruit consumption.
The researchers found that adolescents who reported not eating
family meals within the past
week were 3 times more likely
to be overweight and 6 times
more likely to be food insecure
than adolescents who reported
eating 5-7 family dinners per
week. Adolescents reporting no
family meals also had significantly
higher depressive symptom
scores than students who reported daily family dinners.
The researchers concluded that
“intervention programs to promote family meals may be beneficial, but likely need increased
attention to the specific needs of
at-risk youth, including availability
and affordability of healthful
foods and family structure.
They also found that family dinner frequency was positively
associated with breakfast fre-
Fulkerson JA, Kubik MY, Story
M, Lytle L, Arcan C. Are there
nutritional and other benefits
associated with family meals
among at-risk youth? Journal of
Adolescent Health 2009; 45:
389-395.
Mid-Year Analysis of HIV in Minnesota Adolescents
The mid-year analysis of reported
HIV cases by the Minnesota Department of Health has reported
that if current trends sustain,
there may be an increase in the
number of adolescent cases diagnosed in Minnesota compared to
2008. The number of cases diagnosed among adolescents and
young adults (ages 15-24) is up
significantly compared to the
same time period in 2008 (47
cases versus 24 cases, almost
double).
Cases are seen among both
males and females, and concentrated on African American and
White youth. For males, this is a
trend that has continued since
2000.
Among the overall population,
the total number of cases is up
24 percent (179 cases versus 144
cases) compared to the same
time period in 2008.
At this time, it is unclear whether
these numbers are a result of
more screening and testing or if
they reflect increased transmission. However, this situation
highlights the need for continued
efforts to address HIV and other
STDs among the population.
Current CDC HIV Testing
Guidelines recommend that all
persons aged 13 to 64 be
screened for HIV at least annu-
ally or more often if they are
engaging in behaviors that may
put them at higher risk. It also
addresses the need for continued
discussions around best prevention practices and the need for
enhanced HIV education, outreach and awareness efforts,
especially among youth.
For questions regarding HIV data
and surveillance contact Luisa
Pessoa-Brandao, Supervisor,
Epidemiology and Surveillance
Unit, by phone at 651-201-4032,
or via email at: [email protected].
PAGE
2
Communicating with Today’s Teens
A new report developed by
The National Center for
Health Marketing on communicating with teens (age 12-17)
captures the thoughts of 25
million U.S. teens on healthrelated concerns, technology,
and communication preferences.
When asked about current
health-concerns, 51% of 9th
through 12th graders stated
handling stress as their number
one health issue, with primary
sources of stress being school,
money, and family. Other top
health concerns of U.S. teens
include physical activity (46%),
nutrition (42%), and mental
health issues including depression and anxiety (38%).
“Adolescents need
to be surrounded
by safe places,
challenging
experiences and
caring people to
develop in healthy
ways.”
-Minnesota’s
Adolescent Health
Action Plan
47% of teens turn to the internet to get most of their health
information. Females are more
likely than males to search the
internet for information related to health, fitness, or dieting. 77% of teens also turn to
the internet for information
regarding news and current
events.
Many teens (59%) use the
internet for creative expression, including on blogs or
Web pages, video photography, stories, and other art
work. 55% of teens also use
social networking sits, like
facebook or MySpace, for creative expression. 91% of teens
who use social networking
sites do so to keep in touch
with friends, and 41% say they
send messages to friends via
those sites everyday.
Other forms of popular communication among teens include cell phone usage and text
messaging. 63% of teens now
have cell phones, and more
than 75% of teens send or
receive text messages daily.
Teens prefer text messaging
versus email, where as only
14% of teens say they email
their friends daily.
To view the full article, go to
http://www.cdc.gov/
healthmarketing/pdf/
AudienceInsight_teens.pdf
Relationship Factors and Consistent
Condom Use among Adolescents
An article published in the
September issue of the Perspectives of Sexual and Reproductive Health journal examines
the positive and negative characteristics of adolescents’ dating relationships and likelihood
of consistent condom use.
The study assessed four
measures of positive relationship qualities (intimate selfdisclosure, enmeshment, passionate love, relationship salience), and six measures of
negative relationship qualities
(controlling behavior, conflict,
partner mistrust, perceived partner inferiority, jealousy, nonexclusively agreement).
The Authors found
that “Relationship
qualities were associated with consistency
of condom use even
after social and demographic characteristics
ADOLESCENT
HEALTH
E
NEWS
and other basic relationship
features (e.g. duration and
demographic heterogamy)
were accounted for”. All four
positive relationship qualities
were associated with reduced
odds of consistent condom
use, and 5 negative relationship
qualities were negatively associated with consistent condom
use. “The one exception was
that having a nonexclusive
relationship was positively
associated with using a condom every time”.
of adolescent’s condom use
consistency forward by focusing on romantic relationship
qualities and characteristics.
“Adolescents in all types of
relationships are at-risk of
STDs and pregnancies, and
programmatic response should
attend to the full range of risk.
Prevention programs should
work to heighten awareness of
the links between relationship
dynamics and the likelihood of
maintaining a consistent pattern of condom use.
“Although females reported
lower consistency of condom
use in dating relationships,
positive relationship qualities
has similar associations for
males and females; however,
negative relationship qualities
were associated with consistency of condom use among
females but not males”.
Manning WD, Flanigan CM,
Giordano PC, et al. Relationship dynamics and consistency
of condoms use among adolescents. Perspectives on Sexual
and Reproductive Health 2009;
41(3):181-190.
The authors concluded that
the findings from this research
study move the understanding
PAGE
3
Seminars/Trainings
Scoliosis Screening Seminar
October 19:12:30p.m.-4:30p.m.
Minnesota Department of
Health
Snelling Office
1645 Energy Park Drive
St. Paul, MN 55108
The registration fee of $40
includes course materials.
Registration Deadline: October
12
“As young
people navigate
the changes of
adolescence, it is
critical that they
receive the
This seminar is designed for
school nurses, nurses, allied
health-care providers, physicaleducation teachers and anyone
else involved in the scoliosis
screening process. At this
seminar, participants will learn
how to outline screening for
scoliosis using a scoliometer,
review criteria for positive
screening and referral, understand Minnesota Department
of Health school-screening
recommendations, including
the rationale behind recent
updates, describe different
types of scoliosis, and discuss
scoliosis treatment modalities.
For more information and to
register, see the brochure and
event registration form http://
www.gillettechildrens.org/
fileUpload/Scoliosis%
20Screening%20Seminar.pdf
Beyond Terminology: Gender Inclusive Sex Education
October 29: 9:00a.m.-4:30a.m.
Webster Open Elementary
School
425 N 5th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Registration fee: $30
Transgender and gender nonconforming students are in
every classroom and every
community. Sexual health
education is often tied to a
binary understanding of
gender, rendering transgender
people invisible, perpetuating
health disparities, and obscuring information that applies to
everyone’s sexual health. Using
gender inclusive strategies is
essential in providing quality
sex education. This training will
help participants build gender
competencies in sexual health education via a deep understanding of
gender, curriculum adaptations, and
the larger context of access and
health disparities for trans youth.
For more information and to register, see the flyer and event registration form . Click here to register
online. Questions? Contact Jill Farris at 651-644-1447 x18 or
[email protected].
University of Minnesota Youth
Work Institute
October 15: 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m.
Neighborhood House
179 Robie Street E. Rm 212
St. Paul, MN 55107
Registration fee: $25
Come and learn about the Division
of Indian Work’s Indigenous sexuality program called LIVE IT!, a comprehensive sexuality program for
youth ages 12-18, their parents, and
other significant adults in their lives.
Register at http://
www.extension.umn.edu/
YouthWorkInstitute
guidance,
support and
encouragement
that fosters
healthy
development”
-Minnesota’s
Adolescent Health
Action Plan
Conferences
2009 KidsChange Youth
Intervention Conference
October 27: 7:00a.m.-3:00p.m
October 28: 8:00a.m.-3:00p.m.
University of Minnesota
Continuing Education &
Conference Center
1890 Buford Avenue
St. Paul, MN
The 2009 KidsChange
Youth Intervention
Conference offers 40+
breakout sessions, keynote addresses from
nationally known experts in various youth
intervention fields, and
resource and programsharing exhibitors to
bring together youth
ADOLESCENT
HEALTH
E
NEWS
service professionals. The
conference is especially applicable to the work of socials
workers, educators, administrators, youth program professionals, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and all
other who work with youth.
Participant s of the conference
will gain an increased understanding of current challenges
in working with youth, gain
knowledge of proactive solutions and best practices for
meeting the challenges faced by
youth today, and acquire takehome resources to improve
their services to youth and
their families.
THRIVE, A concurrent conference for youth attendees ,
gives youth the opportunity to
attend keynote and break-out
sessions on the areas of Youth
Leadership, Violence Prevention, Technology, and Achieving Goals and Dreams. Encourage the youth you work
with to attend the “THRIVE!”
conference by helping them
secure local sponsorships or
donations, transportation and
accommodations.
To register or for more information visit www.mnyipa.org
(“Conferences & Trainings”),
call 888.945.9472 or email
[email protected]
PAGE
4
Resources
Web Resource for
Hispanic Parents
New Educational Films
from YPC
“Habla Con Tus Hijos” is a
Spanish-language web resource
and educational campaign that
encourages parents to have
frequent conversations with
their children about the risks
of drug and alcohol use. It
empowers Hispanic parents
and caregivers to start and
maintain open, honest conversations with their children by
providing them with inlanguage tools and tips. To
learn more visit
HablaConTusHijos.org.
“.Investment in
health during
adolescences has
long-term
benefits”
-Minnesota’s
Adolescent Health
Action Plan
The Youth Performance Company introduces two innovative
DVDs to supplement health
and education programs: Goddess Menses and the Menstrual
Show and The Talk: An introduction on Coming of Age,
which both offer honest personal reflection on issues affecting young people. Both
DVDs address physical and
emotional changes of puberty,
and encourage young people to
explore feelings about growing
up and embracing what makes
then unique. Go to the YPC
website to view clips from
both films - http://
youthperformanceco.com/
films.html <http://
youthperformanceco.com/
films.html> or http://
www.youtube.com/user/
YouthPerformanceCo
New MCH website
The Center of Leadership
Education in Maternal & Child
Public Health has launched
their new website. The website offers information on upcoming conferences, data resources, and helpful MCH links
on issues related to child, adolescent, and family health. Visit
http://www.epi.umn.edu/mch/
Grants
Strengthening Women and
Families Affected by HIV/
AIDS Grant
National AIDS Fund and
Johnson & Johnson
Deadline: November 2
Six to eight grants are available
for community-based organizations to create or adapt evidence-based HIV/AIDS prevention interventions that reduce
the spread of HIV among highrisk women and girls. The
funds will be prioritized based
on geographic regions with
high HIV/AIDS incidence
and prevalence rates
among women based on
local and state data, and in
areas with emerging epidemics.
Contact The National
AIDS Fund for more information and to apply for
this funding http://
ADOLESCENT
HEALTH
E
NEWS
www.aidsfund.org/2009/08/20/
generations-strengtheningwomen-and-families-affectedby-hivaids/
U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services Communities Putting Prevention to Work
Deadline: 12/2/09
The U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services and the
Center for Disease Control
and Prevention are please to
announce funding for Communities Putting Prevention to
Work, a program aimed at
increasing physical activity,
improving nutrition, decreasing
obesity, and decreasing smoking in U.S. communities.
Funded projects will support
evidence-based prevention
strategies for youth and adults
and will emphasize high-impact,
broad-reaching policy, environmental, and systems changes in
schools (K-12) and communities.
The $373 million in cooperative agreements will be
awarded to communities
through a competitive selection process. Eligible applicants
include large cities, urban areas, tribal communities, state
coordinated small cities and
rural areas.
Please contact grants.gov for
more information and to apply
for this funding: http://
www.grants.gov/search/
search.do?
mode=VIEW&oppId=49571
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
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”.
P.O. Box 64882
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.
To subscribe...
If you want to subscribe to
this newsletter, please email
[email protected]
or go to the following website: http://
www.health.state.mn.us/
youth/newsletters.html
For copies of any of the articles featured in this newsletter, please contact
MDH’s Barr Library. The
Barr Library has a quality
collection of public health
books, journals, and videos.
The library provides lending, reference, interlibrary
loan, and other services to
Minnesota Department of
Health staff, local tribal,
county, or city public health
professionals, school health
practitioners, and employees of both the Minnesota
Board of Nursing and the
Minnesota Department of
Human Services. The Barr
Library also provides interlibrary loan services to the
Minnesota Department of
Agriculture:
[email protected]
or 651-201-5090