Think the division of Adolescent Health & Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics is all about medicine? Think again. The division is about all aspects of adolescent health and development and the health of adolescents at risk. We provide interdisciplinary research, training, and clinical services collaborating with the disciplines of medicine, nursing, nutrition, psychology, public health and social work. We have trained doctors, journalists, and ministers. What unites us? A passion for developing resilience in youth.

• Clinical Services
• Training
• Research
• Centers, Institutes, Projects and Initiatives

In the News

• Dr. Peter Scal, MD, MPH, has just been awarded a Special Interest Project (SIP) grant from the CDC, focused on pediatric transitions to adult care, funded through the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.  This SIP award is one that was competed among the network of 33 Prevention Research Centers throughout the US, and Peter stepped forward in a leadership role in response to this funding opportunity. This award is an investigator-initiated R01 and is going to be expanded to 5 years with full funding.
   
• Congratulations to Iris Borowsky, Michael Resnick and Marjorie Ireland on the release of their article: Health Status and Behavioral Outcomes for Youth who Anticipate a High Likelihood of Early Death. Their research shows that kids who believe they are going to die young often engage in the very behavior that can lead to early death.  Press Release. News outlets include:
  
  
  • Star Tribune, Time magazine, US News & World Report, Wichita Falls Times Record News, The Baltimore Sun, News Blaze, guardian.co.uk, National Public Radio Health Blog, The Med Guru, WCCO-TV, (video), Rochester New York’s WHEC-TV, Pioner Press, MSNBC, LA Times, NPR
    
• For the third consecutive year, the Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health partnered with Kwanzaa Freedom School in north Minneapolis to bring Freedom School students to the U of M campus. 12 teens, primarily from the Jordan and Hawthorne neighborhoods, experienced the diverse array of educational and discovery opportunities of the University. Highlights included spending a night in Centennial Hall, a spoken word workshop with Voices Merging, reviewing the Givens Collection of African American literature at Anderson Library, and a hands on demonstration of video production at the Rarig Center. The Kwanzaa Freedom School is a six-week, literacy-rich summer and after-school program designed to create positive learning environments for youth. 
   
• Glynis Shea was awarded MOAPPP's Advocate of the Year Award.
  Glynis Shea, Communications Director for the Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine has been named Advocate of the Year by MOAPPP – the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting. This award is given annually to a person, policymaker or organization who has provided valuable leadership in support of policies or legislation affecting adolescent sexual health promotion, adolescent pregnancy prevention and/or adolescent parent support issues. Ms. Shea's work to re-shape the way we think and communicate about these issues has been transformative for those in the field.
   
• Glynis Shea was also quoted in a recent Star Tribune story on teens, technology and the “sexting” phenomenon.  LINK:  http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/43633067.html?page=1&c=y
   
• Paul Snyder, MSW, Mdiv, Program Director, Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health and Social Work faculty; and Jennifer Andrashko, Social Work Fellow in the Division’s Leadership Education in Adolescent Health Program, are recipients of the 2009-10 Buckman Fellowship for Leadership in Philanthropy. Buckman Fellows are chosen to participate in a ten-month series of seminars with University of Minnesota and community experts on philanthropy and fundraising. As a part of their application they identify a specific philanthropic project and are awarded a stipend to be used to develop their leadership skills and implement their chosen project.  Awards will be given at a June 3rd ceremony at Eastcliffe.  Click here for more info.

Training

•       Application for the Healthy Youth Development • Prevention Research Center Fellowship 

For More Information Please Contact:

Michael Resnick, PhD, Director
Phone: (612) 624-9111
E-mail: resni001@umn.edu 

• Leadership Education in Adolescent Health Projects (LEAH)
  LEAH projects provide interdisciplinary leadership training, faculty development, continuing education, scholarship, technical assistance and collaboration with MCH programs, Title V Programs in state departments of public health, State Adolescent Health Coordinators, policymakers and professional organizations concerned with the health of adolescents.
• Healthy Youth Development - Prevention Research Center Fellowship Program
  

• Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center (PRC)
  The Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center (PRC) collaborates with state and local organizations and communities to provide training, conduct research, and disseminate findings related to best practices in healthy youth development.
• Konopka Institute (Konopka)
  Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. Gisela Konopka, the Konopka Institute's goal is to get reliable information into the hands of everyone who is in a position to help adolescents.
• State Adolescent Health Resource Center (SAHRC)
  SAHRC strives to strengthen the knowledge, skills and capacities of state MCH professionals so they can more effectively address and improve the health of adolescents.