Help Youth Make Informed Decisions About Their Reproductive Health and Well-Being

Published May 2023

Help Youth Make Informed Decisions About Their Reproductive Health and Well-Being

Reproductive health care is an essential part of health and well-being. During the first week of National Adolescent Health Month™ (NAHM™), the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) is sharing information and resources with adults to support adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health. Join OPA, Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA) and Office of Adolescent Health Director Jessica Swafford Marcella in celebrating the strengths and potential of young people this month. Read HHS’s statement about NAHM this year.

Parents, caregivers, youth-serving professionals, and health care providers can connect young people with the sexual and reproductive health information and services they need. Better information and improved access to services will help adolescents—with the support of their parents and caregivers—make informed decisions about their reproductive health and well-being. OPA has resources to help caring adults support adolescent sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

Adolescents often see multiple providers to address different health care needs. Parents and caregivers can support young people as they navigate the health care system when they transition from pediatric to adult health care. Parents and caregivers can use this time to talk to their teens about their health history, where to locate health care services, and what to expect during health care appointments.

Health care providers can make preventive services more accessible and culturally relevant to young people. Providers can provide accessible locations and hours, create a warm and respectful environment, ensure opportunities for confidential, one-on-one conversations, and encourage youth to involve their parents or caregivers while also respecting their privacy. The Office of Minority Health has an accredited e-learning course for providing culturally appropriate services.

Youth-serving professionals play an important role in connecting young people with sexual and reproductive health information and services. Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program grantees provide young people with the skills they need to advocate for themselves, including their health. TPP programs teach adolescents more than teen pregnancy prevention; they help adolescents build life skills and set goals for healthy futures. OPA’s TPP Innovative Grants reduce disparities in teen pregnancy and associated sexual and reproductive health outcomes and/or serve diverse communities.

Locate a Title X Clinic Near You

Adolescents ages 15-24 account for nearly half of the 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) each year. Nearly 20% of all Title X family planning clinics clients—or approximately 50.8 million youth each year—are adolescents. In addition to family planning services, Title X clinics provide preventive health services that benefit reproductive health, such as STI and HIV testing, HIV counseling, cervical and breast cancer screening, and HPV vaccines. Services are provided regardless of patients’ ability to pay and clinics charge for services on a sliding fee scale. There are more than 3,200 Title X family planning clinics in the United States. Use OPA’s Family Planning Clinic Locator to find the one nearest to you.

Share messages about National Adolescent Health Month

Please join us in celebrating NAHM by sharing our social media and newsletter messages during May. Don't forget to tag OPA on Twitter (@HHSPopAffairs) and use the NAHM hashtags in your posts: #NationalAdolescentHealthMonth and #HealthyYouthNAHM. 

Tweets:

• Better information and improved access to services will help adolescents make informed decisions about their sexual and #ReproductiveHealth. Learn more from @HHSPopAffairs. https://bit.ly/3KHteAg #NationalAdolescentHealthMonth #HealthyYouthNAHM
• Youth-serving professionals and health care providers play an important role in connecting young people with sexual and #ReproductiveHealth services and giving them accurate information. https://bit.ly/3KHteAg #NationalAdolescentHealthMonth #HealthyYouthNAHM

Facebook/LinkedIn Post:

Better information and improved access to services will help adolescents—with the support of their parents and caregivers—make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being. During the first week of National Adolescent Health Month™ learn more about expanding sexual and reproductive health information and services from the Office of Population Affairs. https://bit.ly/3KHteAg

Newsletter Blurb:

Help Expand Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and Services for Adolescents During the first week of National Adolescent Health Month™ (NAHM™), the Office of Population Affairs focuses on the importance of expanding sexual and reproductive health information and services. Better information and improved access to services will help adolescents—with the support of their parents and caregivers—make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

Sample NAHM Graphics: 

National Adolescent Health Month™, NAHM™, and the NAHM logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Use of these marks without prior approval by HHS is strictly prohibited.