System Capacity for Adolescent Health: Public Health Improvement Tool

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System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
Kristin Teipel, BSN, MPHState Adolescent Health
Resource Center, Konopka Institute for Best
Practices in Adolescent Health, University of
Minnesota Rena Large, M.Ed, CHES Association of
Maternal and Child Health Programs Sunday
February 20, 2005
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Improving Adolescent Health

• Is a complex endeavor
• Should be the responsibility of a network of
  organizations, agencies and individuals
• Requires collaboration across public/private
  societal institutions

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Public Health Is Critical to Adolescent Health

• Healthy People 2010 - 21 critical objectives for
  adolescents and young adults
• State adolescent health objectives and MCH
  performance measures
• National Initiative to Improve Adolescent Health
  (NIIAH)
• Ten essential public health services

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The Role of MCH in Improving Adolescent Health

• Provide a focal point for adolescent health
  within family health framework
• Ensure a strong infrastructure to effectively
  address adolescent health
• Forge partnerships with state agencies, other
  societal institutions, as well as with youth and
  families

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Six Capacity Areas for Strong Adolescent
Health-focused Systems? Commitment to Adolescent
Health

• Dedicated resources, including designated
  adolescent health coordinator
• Staff expertise
• Adolescent health focal point

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Six Capacity Areas for Strong Adolescent
Health-focused Systems? Partnerships

• Partnerships with state agencies, other societal
  institutions, youth, families
• Focused on integration and coordination with
  other youth-focused efforts

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Six Capacity Areas for Strong Adolescent
Health-focused Systems? Planning Evaluation

• Comprehensive, coordinated planning (needs
  assessment, strategic planning, prioritization)
• Capacity to plan developmentally and culturally
  appropriate programs
• Promotion and development new policies, programs,
  services
• Ability to evaluate and fine-tune efforts

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Six Capacity Areas for Strong Adolescent
Health-focused Systems? Policy Advocacy

• Policy development
• Advocating for adolescent health needs
• Educating partners

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Six Capacity Areas for Strong Adolescent
Health-focused Systems? Education Technical
Assistance

• Education of public
• Education and support for professionals

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Six Capacity Areas for Strong Adolescent
Health-focused Systems? Surveillance Data
Systems

• Dedicated resources, including designated
  adolescent health coordinator
• Staff expertise
• Adolescent health focal point

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Tool Assessment Process

• Designed to assist MCH/FH programs
• Assess capacity to effectively address youth
  health issues (where you are currently)
• Identify areas for improvement (where you want to
  go)
• Develop and implement a reasonable plan of action
  (how to get there)

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Public Health Improvement Tool
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Tool Assessment Process

• Provides a framework for discussion, review and
  analysis
• Assumes every state and territory is different in
  range of capacity and ability
• Can be tailored to meet users unique needs
• Recognizes the range of infrastructure
  characteristics that must be in place

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Tool Assessment Process

• Compliments other national and state tools and
  efforts
• CAST-V
• Capacity Assessment Tool for Title V Programs
• National Initiative to Improve Adolescent and
  Young Adult Health by the Year 2010
• Partners and resources to assist states and
  communities to achieve the Healthy People 21
  critical objectives for adolescents

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Tool Assessment Process

• Developed over a 2 year period with extensive
  literature reviews and expert input
• Piloted with 3 state MCH programs in 2004 (TN,
  UT, WI)
• Refined and streamlined based on pilot evaluations

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Benefits of Assessing System Capacity for
Adolescent Health

• Documentation of baseline capacity
• Identification of best/promising strategies
• Input from internal/external partners
• Identification of new partners and resources
• Definition or refinement of MCHs role in
  addressing adolescent health

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Overview of Assessment ProcessPlan the Process
(1)

• Identify your purpose for conducting assessment
• Define what you are assessing
• Identify what you want to get out of the process
• Gather baseline information

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Overview of Assessment Process Plan the Process
(2)

• Gather support of key stakeholders
• Identify who needs to be involved and/or
  supportive of the process
• Bring together and orient those who will be
  involved in the assessment

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Overview of Assessment Process Plan the Process
(3)

• Identify the best process for using the tool
• Plan logistical details (e.g. where, when,
  timeframe)

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Overview of Assessment Process Conduct the
Assessment

• Discuss each chosen capacity area and conduct a
  SWOT analysis
• Rate each capacity area and identify top issues
• Prioritize top issues
• Develop a plan of action to address priority
  areas

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Public Health Improvement Tool
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Overview of Assessment Process Implement the
Action Plan

• Identify specific actions, timelines, staff,
  resources needed to carry out action plan
• Work on priority areas
• Reassess outcomes
• Celebrate!

System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool
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Resources Availablehttp//www.amchp.org/syscap

• Measurement tools, worksheets, and instructions
  for assessing capacity in six key areas
• Action planning guidance
• Evaluation guidance
• Links to the Conceptual Framework for Adolescent
  Health, CAST-V, Healthy People 2010, and other
  assessment and planning resources.

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Public Health Improvement Tool
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Technical Assistance Resource Colleagues
To explore the use of this tool in your state or
territory, and to be connected with pilot states
and others already using these resources,
contact
State Adolescent Health Resource CenterKristin
Teipel(P) 612-624-0182 teipe001_at_umn.edu
AMCHPRena Large (P) 202-775-0436 x-122
rlarge_at_amchp.org
System Capacity for Adolescent Health
Public Health Improvement Tool