This is a monthly publication from Jennifer O'Brien, the Adolescent Health
Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Health (see contact information
at the end of this publication). This E-Newsletter will cover adolescent
health/ youth development related research, data, resources, learning and
funding opportunities for interested professionals. Past issues of the
newsletter are available online at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/youth/
January 2008
Research
1. Study Shows Extending Care Past Age 18 May Benefit Foster
Youth
2. Research Brief Explores Sexual Experience among Young
Adolescents
3. New CDC Study Finds Decline in Single-Victim School-
Associated violent deaths
4. Family Meals and Disordered Eating in Adolescents:
Longitudinal Findings from Project EAT
5. Native Teen Voices: Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
Recommendations
Resources
6. February 4 - 8, 2008 is National Teen Dating Violence
Awareness and Prevention Week
Conferences
7. 2007 Minnesota Student Survey
8. Every Student Connected: Working to Create Equitable Schools
by Challenging Class Stereotypes and Classism
9. Teen Pregnancy Prevention 101
Grants (Please note: MDH is NOT a contact for the following opportunities)
10. School Based Adolescent Vaccination cooperative agreement
11. Apply Now for CATCH Implementation Funds
12. Tiger Woods Foundation
13. Safe and Vital Communities
Adolescent Health E Newsletter
January 2008
Research
1. Study Shows Extending Care Past Age 18 May Benefit Foster Youth
Foster youth allowed to remain in care past age 18 are more likely to go to
college than those who exit at 18, according to a new Chapin Hall study. The
most comprehensive examination of youth leaving foster care since the
passage of the 1999 Foster Care Independence Act, the study found that
extending care might also increase earnings and delay pregnancy. However,
when compared to adolescents not in foster care, youth aging out of the child
welfare system are faring poorly as a group.
When Should the State Cease Parenting? Evidence from the Midwest Study,
by Mark E. Courtney, Amy Dworsky, and Harold Pollack, discuses how
extending foster care past age 18 can benefit young adults.
Evidence that many former foster youth face significant hardships when
compared to adolescents in the general population is described in Midwest
Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age
21, by Mark E. Courtney, Amy Dworsky, Gretchen Ruth Cusick, Judy
Havlicek, Alfred Perez, and Tom Keller.
2. Research Brief Explores Sexual Experience among Young
Adolescents
Science Says: The Sexual Behavior of Young Adolescents provides new data
on the sexual behavior of adolescents ages 14 and younger and offers
recommendations to parents, policymakers, and those working with young
adolescents. The research brief, part of a series published by the National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy's Putting What Works to Work project,
presents data and information on young adolescents' sexual experience,
pregnancy and births, contraceptive use, oral sex, pressure, dating, number
of partners, and parents. The authors also present information on sciencebased programs to delay sexual initiation and conclude with a discussion of
the fol1owing topics: (1) the proportion of young adolescents who report
having sex before age 13; (2) reasons to be concerned about early sexual
activity and dating: (3) parent-adolescent communication about sex, love,
relationships, and values; (4) teaching young adolescents how to resist and
manage sexual pressure; (5) pregnancy-prevention programs for young
adolescents; and (6) future needs. The brief is available at
[http://www.teenpregnancy.org/works/pdf/Science_Says_3_behavioryounga
dol.pdf]
Adolescent Health E Newsletter
January 2008
3. New CDC Study Finds Decline in Single-Victim School-Associated
violent deaths
Despite the recent occurrence of high-profile events, single-victim school
associated violent death rates have declined, and multiple-victim rates have
remained stable according to a new report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). Results show total and single-victim school
associated student homicide rates decreased significantly (from .07 to .03)
during the 14 year period from July 1, 1992 to June 30, 2006. However, the
rates for total and single-victim student school associated homicides between
July 1, 1999 and June 1,
2006 remained relatively stable.
While the quest for preventing the problem of targeted school violence is of
critical importance, these findings show that schools remain safe places for
students. In fact, the vast majority of children and youth homicides occur
outside school hours and property.
For your information, a copy of the MMWR article and press release is
attached. For more information on CDC's efforts to prevent youth violence
please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/YVP/default.htm
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/YVP/default.htm>
4. Family Meals and Disordered Eating in Adolescents: Longitudinal
Findings from Project EAT
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH, RD; Marla E. Eisenberg, ScD, MPH; Jayne A.
Fulkerson, PhD; Mary Story, PhD, RD; Nicole I. Larson, MPH, RD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(1):17-22
Objective: To examine 5-year longitudinal associations between family meal
frequency and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents.
Design: Longitudinal study.
Setting: Participants from 31 Minnesota schools completed in-class
assessments in 1999 (time 1) and mailed surveys in 2004 (time 2).
Participants: Adolescents (N=2516) who completed Project EAT (Eating
Among Teens)–I (time 1) and –II (time 2) assessments.
Main Outcome Measures: Time 1 family meal frequency and time 2
disordered eating behaviors, including extreme weight control behaviors
(self-induced vomiting and use of laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics), less
extreme unhealthy weight control behaviors (eating very little, fasting, using
food substitutes, skipping meals, or smoking), binge eating, and chronic
dieting.
Adolescent Health E Newsletter
January 2008
Results: Among adolescent girls, time 1 regular family meals (_5 meals/wk)
were associated with lower prevalences of time 2 extreme weight control
behaviors (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.97), even after
adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, family
connectedness, parental encouragement to diet, and extreme weight control
behaviors at time 1. Associations with other disordered eating behaviors
were also suggestive of a protective effect of family meals in unadjusted
analyses but were not statistically significant in adjusted analyses. Among
adolescent boys, regular family meals did not predict lower levels of
disordered eating behaviors.
Conclusions: The high prevalence of disordered eating behaviors among
adolescent girls and the protective role of family meals suggest a need for
interventions aimed at promoting family meals. Further exploration of
predictors of disordered eating behaviors in adolescent boys and the role of
family meals is warranted.
5. Native Teen Voices: Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
Recommendations
Ann W. Garwick, Ph.D., R.N., LMFTa,*, Kristine L. Rhodes, M.P.H.b,
Melanie Peterson-Hickey, Ph.D.c, and Wendy L. Hellerstedt, Ph.D.
Journal of Adolescent Health 42 (2008) 81–88
Purpose: American Indian adolescent pregnancy rates are high, yet little is
known about how Native youth view primary pregnancy prevention. The aim
was to identify pregnancy prevention strategies from the perspectives of both
male and female urban Native youth to inform program development.
Methods: Native Teen Voices (NTV) was a community-based participatory
action research study in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Twenty focus
groups were held with 148 Native youth who had never been involved in a
pregnancy. Groups were stratified by age (13–15 and 16–18 years) and sex.
Participants were asked what they would do to prevent adolescent pregnancy
if they were in charge of programs for Native youth. Content analyses were
used to identify and categorize the range and types of participants’
recommendations within and across the age and sex cohorts.
Results: Participants in all cohorts emphasized the following themes: show
the consequences of adolescent pregnancy; enhance and develop more
pregnancy prevention programs for Native youth in schools and communitybased organizations; improve access to contraceptives; discuss teen
pregnancy with Native youth; and use key messages and media to reach
Native youth.
Conclusions: Native youth perceived limited access to comprehensive
pregnancy prevention education, community-based programs and
contraceptives. They suggested a variety of venues and mechanisms to
address gaps in sexual health services and emphasized enhancing school-
Adolescent Health E Newsletter
January 2008
based resources and involving knowledgeable Native peers and elders in
school and community-based adolescent pregnancy prevention initiatives. A
few recommendations varied by age and sex, consistent with differences in
cognitive and emotional development.
Resources
6. February 4 - 8, 2008 is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness
and Prevention Week
Since 2006, National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week
is a time during which schools, law enforcement, public officials, and others
conduct programs and activities for youth that promote awareness and
prevention tips, as well as offer suggestions on healthy teen relationships.
The American Bar Association, ABA, the campaign's sponsor developed an
online toolkit that includes: teen dating facts; warning signs of teen dating
violence; and prevention recommendations; a 30-minute DVD featuring
teens candidly discussing their experience with dating violence, getting help,
and ending the relationship; a teacher's guide; and the Teen Dating Violence
Prevention Initiative poster. Toolkit elements can be used in curricular and
extracurricular programs.
For more information and to see the toolkit, visit
www.abanet.org/publiced/teendating.shtml
http://www.abanet.org/publiced/teendating.shtml
Conferences
7. 2007 Minnesota Student Survey
The Chronic Disease and Risk Reduction Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health are
sponsoring a video conference on the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey Results.
Ann Kinney and Pete Rode of the Minnesota Department of Health - Center for Health
Statistics will present on:
1. A brief introduction to the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey and the tables and reports
produced from it;
2. Trends for key indicators from 1992 to 2007, with an emphasis on change between
2004 and 2007;
3. Results for new questions, including bullying, date violence, overweight status, and
mental health.
In addition, content experts will be on hand to answer questions you may have about
the meaning of the results.
Adolescent Health E Newsletter
January 2008
It will be held Wednesday, January 30, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at sites around
the state:
Bemidji
Duluth
Fergus Falls
Marshall
North Mankato
Rochester
St. Cloud
St. Paul
Thief River Falls
Registration for this video conference is online at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=DhrnY241TFLT1V3sQ4lEkA_3d_3d
Since the capacity of the sites is limited, registrations will be on a first come, first served
basis.
If you have any questions about the video conference, please contact: Jay Jaffee at
jay.jaffee@health.state.mn.us or 651-201-5496.
8. Every Student Connected: Working to Create Equitable Schools by
Challenging Class Stereotypes and Classism
February 8, 2008
8:30 a.m.—noon
Brooklyn Center Community Center
6301 Shingle Creek Pkwy.
Brooklyn Center, MN
(See attached file: Class and classism flier)
9. Teen Pregnancy Prevention 101
MOAPPP
February 27, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Avenue South, Minneapolis This training is
intended for professionals new to the field of teen pregnancy prevention.
Participants will review the basics of teen pregnancy prevention including
pregnancy, STI and birth statistics; trends in teen pregnancy and sexual
behaviors; basics of adolescent growth and development; risk and protective
factors associated with teen pregnancy; and prevention strategies that work.
Each participant will leave with a basic understanding of current research and
resources in teen pregnancy prevention, what to do to promote adolescent
sexual health and where to go for more information and support. An
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January 2008
informational flyer and registration form will be available in mid-January on
the MOAPPP website. For more information, contact Jill Farris at 651-6441447 x18 or jill@moappp.org.
Grants (Please note: MDH is NOT a contact for the following
opportunities)
10. School Based Adolescent Vaccination cooperative agreement
Funder: CDC
The purpose of the FOA is to seek a cooperative agreement with a state or local public
health entity to coordinate and evaluate a school-based adolescent immunization
program done in partnership with entities who bill third party payers (for example
community vaccinators or medical providers). The state or local public health entity must
collaborate with an academic entity to carry out the evaluation.
Closing date:
Mar 19, 2008
www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=16315
Or
www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm
11. Apply Now for CATCH Implementation Funds
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is accepting applications for its
Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Implementation Funds program.
The purpose of the program is to support the initial or pilot stage of
development or implementation of a community-based child health initiative.
The deadline to apply for these funds is January 31,
2008.
For more information, visit the AAP web site at:
www.aap.org/catch/implementgrants.htm
12. Tiger Woods Foundation
For youth development and education grants to underserved youth ages 5 to
17.
Funder: Tiger Woods Foundation.
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations.
Deadline: Feb. 1; May 1; Aug. 1; Nov. 1.
Amount: $2,500 and $25,000.
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January 2008
Contact: www.twfound.org/grants/default.sps?itype=7609
13. Safe and Vital Communities
For projects related to catastrophe response, youth anti-violence,
neighborhood revitalization and teen safe driving, as well as for tolerance,
inclusion and diversity.
Funder: Allstate Foundation.
Eligibility: Nonprofits.
Deadline: Open.
Amount: Varies.
Contact: www.allstate.com/citizenship/foundation/funding-guidelines.aspx
*************************************************************
For more information on Adolescent Health at MDH, please contact
Jennifer O’Brien
Minnesota Department of Health
P.O. Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
Jennifer.obrien@health.state.mn.us
651-201-3627
Past issues of the newsletter are available online at:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/youth/
Adolescent Health E Newsletter
January 2008