About Adolescent health initiative
Adolescent Health Initiative: Advancing Innovative Adolescent-Centered Healthcare
The Adolescent Health Initiative (AHI) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing innovative adolescent-centered healthcare through practice improvement, research, youth and community engagement. The organization was founded in 2009 by Dr. Sean McCabe, who recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to adolescent health care that would address the unique needs of this population.
AHI's mission is to improve the health and well-being of adolescents by promoting evidence-based practices and policies that are grounded in an understanding of adolescent development. The organization works with healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, youth advocates, and community organizations to develop and implement strategies that will improve access to high-quality care for adolescents.
One of AHI's primary goals is to promote practice improvement in adolescent health care. To achieve this goal, AHI provides training and technical assistance to healthcare providers on topics such as communication skills with adolescents, confidentiality issues in adolescent health care, sexual health counseling for teens, substance use screening and intervention for teens etc.
In addition to providing training opportunities for healthcare providers on best practices in adolescent-centered care delivery; AHI also conducts research studies aimed at improving the quality of care provided to adolescents. These studies focus on topics such as mental health screening among teenagers; improving access to contraception services; reducing rates of sexually transmitted infections among young people etc.
Another key aspect of AHI's work involves engaging young people themselves as partners in their own healthcare journey. Through its Youth Advisory Council (YAC), AHI empowers young people aged 13-24 years old from diverse backgrounds across Michigan State University campus communities with leadership skills so they can advocate effectively for their own needs within the broader context of public policy discussions around issues affecting them directly or indirectly like mental illness stigma reduction campaigns or school-based violence prevention programs etc.
Finally yet importantly; AHI engages with community organizations working towards similar goals like reducing teen pregnancy rates or increasing access points into mental wellness resources available locally through partnerships between schools districts & local hospitals/clinics where students can receive confidential counseling sessions without fear being stigmatized by peers/family members who may not understand what they're going through at home/school/workplace environments where bullying/harassment may be prevalent due lack awareness about how these behaviors impact overall wellbeing over time if left unchecked/unaddressed properly by trained professionals equipped handle complex situations involving minors under their supervision/care.
In conclusion; The Adolescent Health Initiative has made significant strides towards advancing innovative adolescent-centered healthcare since its inception over a decade ago. By promoting evidence-based practices grounded in an understanding of adolescent development while engaging youth advocates & community organizations alike - we believe it will continue making positive impacts on lives many more years come!
adolescenthealthinitiative.org
