Access and Care Coordination
Adolescent Health
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| Adolescent Health
focuses on health concerns that affect youth,
ages 11 to
19 years old |
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Early Adolescence (Ages 11-14)
Physical change is the main event for
children at this age. Bodies grow in height and
weight, while hormonal changes bring on puberty,
wide mood swings, and worries about being
"normal." At school, budding minds are filled
with new possibilities, while peer pressure
represents difficult social challenges.
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In this awkward and often confusing period, adults can
help, with offers of support and understanding. Teens will
be reassured to learn that everyone grows at a different
pace. They may want to talk or get help finding information
about loneliness, sexual identity, vocational goals, or
personal values.
Child and Adolescent Health supports programs and
services that families, adults and teens can turn to for
help.
Middle Adolescence (Ages 15-17)
By their middle teens, youth have reached puberty, and are becoming
acquainted with their "new" bodies and unfamiliar emotions. It's not surprising that
teenagers can often be moody, or overly concerned about their physical image. Habits in
eating, exercise, health care, and hygiene fluctuate wildly.
Socially, interest in dating skyrockets. And, while teenagers are forming strong alliances with their peers, they are asserting their independence at home. Adolescent years are notorious for experimentation with drugs, sex, and risk-taking behavior. But this is also the time when teens begin thinking seriously about their future, developing their intellect and creativity, and taking on new responsibilities. This is a critical time for supportive parental involvement.
Child and Adolescent Health supports programs and services that families, adults, and teens can turn to for help.
Young Adults (Ages 18-21)
By age eighteen (and sometimes earlier), teenagers are making the transition into adulthood, ready and eager to make decisions for themselves. With a strong sense of identity that will continue to change and grow over time, many 18 to 21 year olds are living on their own, taking on more commitments, trying out various lifestyles, even forming new families.
For people who are newly independent, health-care and other community resources may not be easy to find. Healthcare is just one of an array of unfamiliar challenges, and might be neglected.
Child and Adolescent Health supports programs and services that families, adults, and teens can turn to for help.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials and forms
on this page are in PDF format.
Links to external resources are provided as a
public service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington State
Department of Health. |
