1. Teen Challenge 2009 Tiffany Bowlby, MSW, LCSW Children’s Hospital Boston

2. WHAT IS TEEN CHALLENGE? Designed to be a metaphor for living with a metabolic condition It’s a challenge, but one that can lead to growth and mastery Main objectives are: –Developing a social network that supports adherence, –Challenging teens to try new and/or overwhelming things, –Encouraging teens to build resiliency & self-confidence, and –Building skills necessary for independent management of metabolic condition.

3. Teen Challenge lays the groundwork for a smooth transition to adult care.

4. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK S OCIAL SUPPORT POSITIVE A TTITUDES M ANAGEABILITY Finkelson L, Bailey I, Waisbren SE. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2001; 24: 515-516.

5. THIS YEAR’S PARTICIPANTS 12 participants ages 13 – 19 (20% increase from 2008) 2 college-age volunteers with PKU 50% with PKU; all but 2 on special diets 50% first-time participants Most participants from New England region

6. Building Skills

7. Working Together

8. Trying New Things

9. THINKING AHEAD: TEEN CHALLENGE 2010 Goals include : Reach more youth – particularly those not served in previous years, Involve past participants in planning process, Evaluate program’s effectiveness at achieving stated objectives, and Increase collaboration among metabolic centers to address recruitment, funding, and staffing challenges.

10. For more information, please contact: Tiffany Bowlby tiffany.bowlby@childrens.harvard.edu 617-355-0966