Next Steps for the Teens Take on Health Report Virginia Brown, DrPH, Extension Educator and Bonnie Braun, PhD, Professor Emerita Responding to 1000 Teen’s Health Issues Proposed Model* Summary of Teens Take on Health Evaluator Recommendations Responding to 1000 Teens’ Top Health Issues Proposed Model* Teens Take on Health was a nationwide, youth-led health initiative between Molina Healthcare and the National 4-H Council. Goal: Prepare teens to take ownership of their health, promote healthy living and become health leaders. Charge: Identify health issues and big, bold ideas to address each. The 15-month, multi-faceted initiative identified health issues and solutions through: A social media survey 2) Health videos created by youth 3) Town-hall meetings led by youth in five states and a teen health youth summit at the National 4-H Conference Center. Drs. Bonnie Braun and Virginia Brown evaluated the initiative. A literature review of youth development and health was conducted; a qualitative analysis of all three data sources was completed. What mattered to the teens was: Obesity, Sleep, stress and mental health, Health care access and Personal, family, community and public health action. What emerged was a picture of teens ready to make lifestyle changes to address their own health as well as that of their families and communities. 1: Create a logic model template to specify prioritized actions, desired outcomes and resources for an extended Teens Take on Health Initiative.   2: Convene a group, or groups, of youths and adults who were involved in the initial Teens Take on Health activities to discuss this report and identify priority actions for a continuing Teens Take on Health Initiative. 3: Invite representatives of the ECOP Health Task Force to discuss findings from their report and proposed national framework with the purpose of identifying ways to integrate the Teens Take On Health while exploring ways to communicate about the initiative communicate across the nationwide Extension system. 4:Invite representatives of the National Prevention Council, the Department of Health and Human Services, including the CDC and other federal agencies and private organizations to explore ways their work and that of a Teens Take on Health Initiative could be leveraged to achieve improved health of teens, their families and communities. 5:Conduct teen health public policy workshops to increase the ability of teens and adults working with teens to affect health-related public policy. 6: Share findings from this report with members of the public, media, public policy makers, and youth educators to alert them to the health issues that matter to teens, to their willingness to take action and to opportunities to empower youth to make a difference in their health and that of their families, communities and nation now and for the future. 7: Adopt a version of the socio-ecological model to be used as an organizing framework for all Teens Take On Health Initiative components and discussions. Intrapersonal Interpersonal Organizational Community Policy Fitness, nutrition, safety, avoidance of risky behavior (drug or alcohol abuse, smoking), sexual responsibility, general hygiene, and adequate sleep, stress, mental health, and self-efficacy. Forming and maintaining satisfying relationships, sense of self, autonomy, social competence, being able to take another perspective, and being able to resolve interpersonal conflict, eating, shopping and exercising together and interpersonal support. Family, School, Business, Youth Programs Youth-Adult Partnerships; Community Facilities & Services for health and mental health Local, state and federal government and non-government policy decision making; food policy; access to health care, health insurance. *Concepts in black from 4-H Healthy Living Strategic Framework; blue from Initiative Teen Proposed Action Steps Audiences for Report Dissemination Program Actions Partnership Actions Policy Actions Obesity Examples: local health action groups, health providers, Extension educators in nutrition, physical activity and wellness Example: Develop walking and cooking clubs Work with schools, health food stores, gym teachers Organize to re-mandate recess during elementary school Health Care Access Health providers, local hospitals and free clinics, etc. Teach youth and families about health insurance Work with local doctors to secure grant funding Seek funding for mobile clinics, have field trips to doctors offices for physicals Sleep and Mental Health Local mental health professionals, school counselors, social workers, university departments Institute nap room during lunch, develop peer support network Partner with other organizations to provide free mental health counseling Move school start times back, develop anti-bullying policy Personal, Family and Community Health Families, Parent Teacher Associations, Extension Educators in Family & Consumer Sciences Exercise and activity clubs for families, neighborhood gardens and fairs Partner with neighborhood associations, churches and local stakeholders Address zoning laws to ensure unused space in each neighborhood is donate for community gardens Key questions I need to ask to take action: 1. What is at stake if I do not respond? 2. What can I do? 3. Who do I know to work with me? The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.