Session two of the “Adolescent Health: Exploring Effective Screening and Referral Processes” Education Series
This session will be hosted both in-person and via live stream.

Intended Audience:

Those that serve adolescents for health and social services, including, but not limited to: health care systems- hospitals, school-based clinics, federally-qualified health centers, behavioral health centers; community centers; community-based and social service organizations, foster care and juvenile justice program, case management and other enabling services.

Session Description:

High risk behaviors including substance use, sexual activity, interpersonal violence, and suicide are the primary causes of morbidity and mortality in adolescents. However, less than 20% of adolescents receive recommended screening and counseling on these risky behaviors from their healthcare provider. Adolescent patients are unlikely to bring up these sensitive issues on their own, but want to discuss these subjects with their physician, and cite confidentiality as one of the key determinants of their use of healthcare.

Risk screening tools are validated questionnaires designed to be completed confidentially by an adolescent patient to screen for high risk issues and behaviors such as unprotected sexual activity, substance use, poor nutrition, bullying, and mood issues. These risk screening tools provide a comprehensive picture of the physical and emotional health of each patient and are one of the most important tools for improving health outcomes and service utilization in adolescents. While clinical guidelines recommend yearly administration of screening tools, these are rarely used systematically or confidentially in a primary care setting.

Using real cases as a framework, this session will review the literature, laws, and guidelines on adolescent risk assessment and confidentiality, discuss practical ways to implement confidential risk screening in a clinical setting, and provide best practices for addressing risk behavior with patients and parents. The session will provide a case study focused on effective practices in screening and counseling for sexually transmitted infections.

The session will be presented by Dr. Margaret A. Riley, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School Medical Director, Adolescent Health Initiative and Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools, President, Michigan Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (MI-SAHM) and Dr. Jennifer Salerno, President, Possibilities for Change, LLC

Questions?

Contact Lesley.Craig@hhs.gov

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health – Region V in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Adolescent Health Initiative

Region V gratefully acknowledges the HHS Office of Adolescent Health for providing funds for the “Adolescent Health: Exploring Effective Screening and Referral Processes” Education Series. We also thank the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan Public Health Institute for their support.