CE/CME

Promoting Adolescent Health

Welcome to the training on Promoting Adolescent Health provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

Credit Hours: 1.50 CE

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Goal

The goal of this module is to equip Texas Health Steps providers and others to promote adolescent health by conducting comprehensive screening during preventive medical checkups, implementing effective clinical practices and communication strategies and complying with state laws related to adolescent health care.

Target Audience

Texas Health Steps providers and other interested health care professionals.

Specific Learning Objectives

After completing the activities of this module, you will be able to:

  1. Summarize how regular health screenings and medical checkups help promote healthy adolescent development and may reduce common health complications and risky behaviors.
  2. Specify best practices for setting up a medical home and conducting comprehensive adolescent health screening during preventive checkups.
  3. Integrate effective communication strategies with adolescents and their parents or caregivers, including motivational interviewing, into routine adolescent health screenings and checkups.
  4. Apply state laws related to adolescent health privacy, consent and confidentiality, and abuse and neglect reporting requirements.

This training pertains to adolescents roughly ages 11 through 20 years. The terms “adolescents,” “young people” and “youth” are used interchangeably. The term “parents” also includes guardians and caregivers. All resources mentioned in the module can be accessed in the module’s Appendix. 

Please note this module expires on 9/27/2026.

This module was released on 9/27/2023.

Featured

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Achieving Quality Health Services for Adolescents. Pediatrics, 138(2): e20161347.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2011, reaffirmed 2016). Adolescents and HIV Infection: The Pediatrician’s Role in Promoting Routine Testing. Pediatrics, 128(5): 1023-1029.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Bright Futures. (2022).

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2010, reaffirmed 2014). Child Abuse, Confidentiality, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Pediatrics, 125(1): 197-201.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2013). Children, Adolescents, and the Media. Pediatrics, 132(5): 958-961.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Children and Adolescents and Digital Media. Pediatrics, 138(5): e20162593.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2015, reaffirmed 2021). Consent for Emergency Medical Services for Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics, 128(2): 427-433.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2014, reaffirmed 2021). Contraception for Adolescents. Pediatrics, 134(4): e1244-e1256.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Family Connection and Flourishing Among Adolescents in 26 Countries. Pediatrics, 149(6): e2021055263.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Informed Consent in Decision-Making in Pediatric Practice. Pediatrics, 138(2): e20161485.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2013, reaffirmed 2021). Office-Based Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth. Pediatrics, 132(1): 198-203.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2013). Onset of Breast Development in a Longitudinal Cohort. Pediatrics, 132(6): 1019-1027.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity in US Children, 1999–2016. Pediatrics, 141(3): e20173459.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2017). Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Services in the Pediatric Setting. Pediatrics, 140(5): e20172858.

American Academy of Pediatrics.  (2012). Standards for Health Information Technology to Ensure Adolescent Privacy. Pediatrics, 130 (5): 987–990.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). State-by-State Variability in Adolescent Privacy Laws.
Pediatrics, 149(6): e2021053458.

American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP News. (2022). Study: Adversity during pandemic linked to poor mental health, suicidal behavior.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. Pediatrics, 138(1): e20161211.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). Supporting the Health Care Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood in the Medical Home. Pediatrics, 142(5): e20182587.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). The Lifelong Effects of Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress. Pediatrics, 129(1): e232–e246.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2002, reaffirmed 2008). The Medical Home. Pediatrics, 110(1): 184-186.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). The Teen Driver. Pediatrics, 142(4): e20182163.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019). Unique Needs of the Adolescent. Pediatrics, 144(6): e20193150.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2017, reaffirmed 2021). Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Implants and Intrauterine Devices.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Leading Causes of Death and Injury.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Reported STDs in the United States, 2019.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Teen Birth Rate by State.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Texas 2021 Results: High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Why Schools?

Defoe, I. N., Semon Dubas, J., & Romer, D. (2019). Heightened Adolescent Risk-Taking? Insights From Lab Studies on Age Differences in Decision-Making. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 6(1): 56–63.

Dellinger, A., & Gilchrist, J. (2019). Leading Causes of Fatal and Nonfatal Unintentional Injury for Children and Teens and the Role of Lifestyle Clinicians. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 13(1): 7-21.

Every Texan. (2022). 2022 Texas Kids Count Data Book.

Garofoli M. (2020) Adolescent Substance Abuse. Primary Care, (2):383-394.

Guttmacher Institute. (2019). Unintended Pregnancy in the United States.

Hampl, SE, Hassink, SG, Skinner, AC, Armstrong, SC, Barlow, SE, Bolling, CF, … Okechukwu, K. (2023). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity. Pediatrics, 151(2): e2022060640.

Jones, J. (2022). LGBT Identification in U.S. Ticks Up to 7.1%. Gallup.

Ludwig, D. S. (2018). Epidemic Childhood Obesity: Not Yet the End of the Beginning. Pediatrics, 141(3): e20174078.

Mayo Clinic News Network. (2019). Mayo Clinic Q and A: Increasing incidence of throat cancer related to HPV.

National Cancer Institute. (2023). Youth Tobacco Use.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2022). Most reported substance use among adolescents held steady in 2022.

National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2013). Maturation of the adolescent brain. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 9: 449–461.

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). (2019). Testicular Cancer.

Neinstein, L., & Johnson, H. (2012). The Healthy Student: A Parent’s Guide to Preparing Teens for the College Years. Society for Adolescent and Health Medicine.

Suicide.org. (n.d.). Depression and Suicide.

Texas Education Code, Section 37.006. (2023). Relating to the possession, use, or delivery of marihuana or e-cigarettes on or new public school property or at certain school events.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. (n.d.). 3 in 30: A Complete Approach to Better Care for Children.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2016). Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT).

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2022). Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students Grades K-12.

Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Health Data. (2020). Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

United States Census Bureau. Quick Facts—Texas. (2022).

University of Rochester Medical Center, Health Encyclopedia. (2020). Understanding the Teen Brain.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau, Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2018). The Risk and Prevention of Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Population Affairs (OASH). (2017). Adolescent Health.

Continuing Medical Education

The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Nursing Education

The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has awarded 1.50 contact hour(s) of Continuing Nursing Education.

Social Workers

The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service under sponsor number CS3065 has been approved by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners to offer continuing education contact hours to social workers. The approved status of The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service expires annually on December 31. The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has awarded 1.50 contact hour(s) of Continuing Social Work Education.

Certificate of Attendance

The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has designated 1.50 hour(s) for attendance.

General Disclosure

One of the requirements of continuing education is disclosure of the following information to the learner:

  1. Notice of requirements for successful completion of continuing education activity. To receive continuing education credit the learner must successfully complete the following activities:
    • Create a Texas Health Steps account.
    • Complete on-line registration process.
    • Thoroughly read the content of the module.
    • Complete the on-line examination.
    • Complete the evaluation.
  2. Commercial Support.
    The THSTEPS Web-based Continuing Education Series has received no commercial support.
  3. Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships.
    The THSTEPS Continuing Education Planning Committee and the authors of these modules have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
  4. Non-Endorsement Statement.
    Accredited status does not imply endorsement of any commercial products or services by the Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service; Texas Medical Association; or American Nurse Credentialing Center.
  5. Off-Label Use.
    Using a disclosure review process, the THSTEPS Continuing Education Planning Committee has examined documents and has concluded that the authors of these modules have not included content that discusses off-label use (use of products for a purpose other than that for which they were approved by the Food and Drug Administration).

The following are policies and definitions of terms related to continuing education disclosure:

The intent of disclosure is to allow Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service the opportunity to resolve any potential conflicts of interest to assure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its Continuing Education activities.

All faculty, planners, speakers and authors of Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service sponsored activities are expected to disclose to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service any relevant financial, relationships with any commercial or personal interest that produces health care goods or services concerned with the content of an educational presentation. Faculty, planners, speakers and authors must also disclose where there are any other potentially biasing relationships of a professional or personal nature.

Glossary of Terms

Conflict of Interest: Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect Continuing Education content about products or services of a commercial interest with which she/he has a financial relationship or where there are any other potentially biasing relationships of a professional or personal nature.

Commercial Interest: Any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.

Financial Relationships: Those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. Relevant financial relationships would include those within the past 12 months of the person involved in the activity and a spouse or partner. Relevant financial relationships of your spouse or partner are those of which you are aware at the time of this disclosure.

Off Label: Using products for a purpose other that that for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Texas Health Steps courses are best viewed using a current browser. If you are using an out-of-date browser or a version of Internet Explorer less than 11, lesson progress and interactive features may not function properly.

Approved Adolescent Mental Health Screening Tools

Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17).

Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-35).

Pediatric Symptom Checklist for Youth (Y-PSC).

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).

Patient Health Questionnaire Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-A depression screen).

Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Family, and Trouble Checklist (CRAFFT).

Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A [anxiety, eating problems, mood problems and substance abuse screen]).

Rapid Assessment for Adolescent Prevention Screening (RAAPS).

Guidelines and Reporting

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2017). Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics, 140 (3): e20171904.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Bright Futures. (2017). Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 4th Edition.

American Academy of Pediatrics and Bright Futures. (2022). Recommendations for Pediatric Preventive Health Care.

 American Academy of Pediatrics. (2013, reaffirmed 2021). Office-Based Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth. Pediatrics, 132(1): 198-203.

American Diabetes Association, Position Statement: Screening for Type 2 Diabetes.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Vaccine Recommendations and Guidelines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Vaccine and immunizations web page for health-care providers.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). STD Treatment Guidelines.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2016). Adolescent Health: A Guide for Providers.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Disease Reporting.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Routine HIV Testing. Forms for reporting HIV testing.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Texas school and child-care facility immunization.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). ImmTrac2, Texas immunization registry.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Texas Vaccines for Children Program - Immunization Unit. (TVFC). Low-cost vaccines for eligible children.

Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC). Information for Providers – Texas Vaccines for Children.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2013). Texas Health Steps Tuberculosis (TB) Questionnaire.

Texas Health Steps. (2017). Anticipatory Guidance Provider Guide.

Texas Health Steps. (2020). Guidelines for Risk-Based Tests for laboratory screening.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Texas Health Steps Medical Checkup Periodicity Schedule for Infants, Children, and Adolescents.

Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual (TMPPM).

General Resources

Adolescent Health Transition Project. (2012) Washington Department of Health. Health-care transition resources for teens and young adults with special health-care needs, chronic illness or physical or developmental disabilities.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Adolescent Sexual Health.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Bright Futures. (2022). Website offering Materials and Tools; Clinical Practice tips, guidelines and tools; and resources for families.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Media and Children. Website with Policy Statements, research, tools and resources for health-care professionals.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2010, reaffirmed 2019). Role of the Pediatrician in Youth Violence Prevention.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). The Teen Driver.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2010). Guideline on Adolescent Oral Health Care.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2023). Adolescent Health Care.

Attorney General of Texas. (n.d.). Human Trafficking Initiative and “Be the One” video.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Clinical growth charts.

The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health. (n.d.) Got Transition. Tools and resources for families and providers to help young people move from pediatric to adult health care.

Power to Decide. (2020). One Key Question. Interactive trainings for non-clinical and clinical providers on starting the conversation with patients about pregnancy desires.

Safe Kids Worldwide. (2023).

Star Health Medicaid. (2023). Health Passport for children in foster care.

Tanner Sexual Maturity Rating System. (2020). UTMB Health Pediatrics. Stages of puberty.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. (n.d.). Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. (n.d.). Human Trafficking. Includes national, state and local resources and, under The Victims tab, a video on identifying victims.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Texas Health Steps Child Health Clinical Record Forms. Includes TB Questionnaire.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Texas Local Public Health Organizations.

Texas Department of State Health Services. Directory of DSHS Laboratory Tests and Specimen Requirements, Laboratory Testing Services Manual – Forms and Laboratory Fee Schedule and Laboratory Testing Services Manual - Guidelines for Specimen Collection and Submission.

Communicating with Patients

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.).  A Guide to Taking a Sexual History.

JAMA Pediatrics. (2005). Brief Interventions and Motivational Interviewing With Children, Adolescents, and Their Parents in Pediatric Health Care Settings.

Patients and Families

American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren.org. (2018). Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBT Teens.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2023). Healthychildren.org. The AAP Parenting website.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Family Media Plan (available in English and Spanish).

Boston Children’s Hospital. (2023). Youngmenshealthsite.org.

Boston Children’s Hospital. (2023). Youngwomenshealth.org.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Preconception Health and Health Care is Important for All.  Preconception health information, including making a plan for having children.

College Board. (2023). Big Future. Website with resources to help prepare for college.

The Nemours Foundation. (2023). Kidshealth.org. Advice for parents about children’s health, behavior and growth through the teen years.

Texas Department of State Health Services, Adolescent Health. (2016). Health Care Providers.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Texas Vaccines for Children Program, Immunizations Unit.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission. (2023). E-Cigarettes.

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2023). Vaping.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.) Smokefree Teen.