Adolescents are more likely to seek services at a
Who are Adolescent Champions?
health center that feels like a medical home –
through their interactions with staff, policies, and
The Adolescent Champion (AC) team consists of a provider
and a health center manager who serve as agents of
change within the health center environment to optimize
the care provided to adolescent patients.
physical environment. The Adolescent
What do Adolescent Champions do?
Champion team leads health center staff through
ACs perform a quarterly clinic assessment and
improvement process, guided by the Adolescent Centered
Environment (ACE) toolkit; attend AHI trainings, facilitate
monthly mini-trainings with health center staff (Staff
Sparks), and implement a standardized risk assessment
tool coupled with a robust referral network.
where their needs are recognized and respected
a shift in culture, ensuring that the health center
is welcoming to all adolescents.
“Participating as an adolescent champion has opened my eyes to many things – the needs of adolescents
foremost, but also the way teams of people can change culture. I think the model fosters participation at many
levels within the health center, and while I still have a ways to go in making my clinic truly adolescent friendly,
we are on the right path.” – Meg Dobson, MD
What are the benefits?
…to the Adolescent Champion:
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Evidence-based professional development for
staff and providers, including CME
opportunities
Leadership opportunity for the provider and
health center manager
Staff incentives for trainings
Technical assistance from AHI’s professional
consultants, along with youth perspectives from
The Adolescent Champion Teen Advisory
Council (TAC TAC)
Reduced registration fee at AHI’s annual
Conference on Adolescent Health
…to the health center:
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An adolescent-friendly health center
environment
Adolescent-approved health materials and
pamphlets
Establishment of consistent use of a
standardized risk assessment process for
adolescent patients, which helps providers have
more meaningful, mutual interactions with
adolescents
Development of a robust referral network for
adolescent mental health, sexual health, and
nutritional services
What is required of Adolescent Champions?
Adolescent Champion teams participate in:
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A baseline orientation meeting and three two-hour trainings, which prepare them to become agents of change
within their clinic
Facilitation of five monthly ten-minute Staff Sparks – evidence-based, fully packaged mini-trainings at regularly
scheduled monthly staff meetings
Instating a standardized risk assessment tool in clinic
Pre- and post- clinic assessments, including quarterly use of the Adolescent Centered Environment assessment
toolkit
Completion of 20 of the required 50 hours of CME yearly on adolescent health topics
Adolescent Champion Certification Framework – Tentative Schedule 2014-15
Improving Clinic Environment
Complete Adolescent Centered Environment Assessment
Complete AHI Adolescent Centered Environment (ACE) assessment using
plan/do/check/act process with ACE Recommendations and Planning Tool.
Timeframe
Quarterly: 9/2014; 1/2015;
5/2015; 9/2015
Training
1. Adolescent Champion Team completes 20 hours of continuing education related to organizational change, staff
development, and best practices in the delivery of adolescent health services
Required 2-hour Trainings:
1. Leadership and Organizational Change
1. November 2014
2. Facilitating Staff Sparks
2. December 2014
3. Adolescent Centered Care & Sparks Support
3. February 2015
2. Adolescent Champion Team facilitates training for clinic staff
Required 10-minute Staff Sparks:
1. Adolescent Centered Environments
1. January 2015
2. Confidentiality and Minor Consent Part I
2. March
3. Confidentiality and Minor Consent Part II
3. May
4. Cultural Appropriateness
4. July
5. Adolescent Centered Care
5. September
Risk Assessment Screening and Referral Network
1. Implement standardized risk assessment screening tool
Suggested Screening Tool: Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Preventive Services (RAAPS)
Other Validated Tools: Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS), Bright Futures screening forms
2. Establish a robust referral network to be used in concert with the standardized risk assessment tool
Pre and Post Assessment
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Complete Baseline Data and Knowledge/Attitudes Assessments
Complete AHI Adolescent Confidentiality Knowledge and Attitudes survey and
disseminate to clinic staff and providers
Complete baseline clinic data collection
Collect adolescent patient satisfaction and provider surveys
Complete AC and Staff self-assessments of competencies
Baseline: August – September
Year-end: August – September
Project Outcomes
1. Improved adolescent centeredness in the clinic environment, policies, and staff and provider practices, based on an
improved ACE score and competency self-assessments.
2. Implementation and increased use of risk assessment tool, coupled with the utilization of a robust referral network.
3. Adolescents and staff perceive the clinic is an adolescent medical home and is adolescent-centered, based on
surveys.