Healthy Youth Development - Prevention Research Center is Awarded Five More Years of CDC Funding
We are thrilled to announce the continuation of our Healthy Youth Development-Prevention Research Center funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)!
Housed in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, the HYD-PRC will mark its 25th year during the 2019-2024 CDC grant cycle. Since its beginning, the HYD-PRC has focused on developing and disseminating evidence-based programs and practices to promote health and healthy development among all adolescents. “We are excited to continue working with state and local health departments, youth-serving clinics, K-12 schools, and community organizations to create opportunities and supports that our young people need to thrive,” says professor Renee Sieving, who has directed the HYD-PRC since 2015.
With renewed funding from the CDC, the HYD-PRC will launch a new core research project. Working with partners in rural Minnesota communities, our core research will develop and test a primary care clinic-level intervention to enhance the quality of confidential adolescent preventive health services while engaging parents in appropriate ways. Led by associate professor Annie-Laurie McRee, this study will address substantial gaps between professional guidelines regarding adolescent preventive services and practice. Specifics of this intervention will take shape during a formative phase with input from providers, clinic staff, parents and adolescents regarding important intervention elements. Key features of the intervention will involve strengthening partnerships between parents and providers, and between adolescents and providers, to improve adolescent health.
“Preventive visits are opportunities to nurture key protective factors in adolescents’ lives. One exciting, yet often overlooked opportunity is to prepare adolescents to become increasingly responsible for their own health as they approach adulthood.” McRee says. “One goal of this research is to develop practical ways for providers and clinics to encourage parent-teen communication and engage youth in taking ownership of their health and healthcare.”
In addition to this new research, the HYD-PRC will continue to offer a range of community-engaged activities to promote adolescent health and healthy development. We will share findings from our 2014-2019 core research project Partnering for Healthy Student Outcomes (PHSO) that are particularly relevant to schools. We will continue to grow the PHSO professional development program, Whole Learners. Developed with committed school partners in rural, suburban and urban areas of Minnesota, Whole Learners includes strategies to assist teachers, administrators, and school staff build authentic connections with their students. To learn more about Whole Learners tools and resources, visit this project’s website. The HYD-PRC will also continue to offer trainings, technical assistance and evaluation services to individuals and organizations invested in adolescent health and development. To learn more about our Center’s full array of research and resources, visit prc.umn.edu .
With this grant, the HYD-PRC continues as part of a nationwide Prevention Research Center Network of 25 centers funded by the CDC to develop, test and/or evaluate public health interventions for widespread application, particularly in underserved communities. To learn more about the PRC Network, visit www.cdc.gov/prc.