An official website of the United States government
National Adolescent Health Month™ (NAHM™) is a health observance that emphasizes the importance of building on young people’s strengths and potential, encouraging meaningful youth engagement in adolescent health activities, and highlighting key topics in adolescent health. Explore the following resources for more information.
Expand sexual and reproductive health information and services
Better information and improved access to services will help adolescents—with the support of their parents and caregivers—make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being.
Resources from OPA and OPA Grantees
- Contraception and Preventing Pregnancy | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Reproductive Health and Teen Pregnancy | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Sexually Transmitted Infections | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Title X Clinic Locator | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Understanding Fertility: The Basics | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- 2021 Title X Final Rule | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Helping Young People Choose the Birth Control Method Right for Them: A Guide for Youth-Supporting Professionals | Activate Center
- THINK TPP: Mission West Virginia Case Study | HHS Office of Population Affairs resource on RHNTC.org
- Promoting Youth-Friendly Environments in Family Planning Clinics Webinar | Reproductive Health National Training Center
- Promoting Family Planning Services Social Media Toolkit (also available in Spanish) | Reproductive Health National Training Center
- Providing Family Planning Services to Adolescents during Uncertain Times | Reproductive Health National Training Center
Resources from HHS Partners
- Health Education Curriculum Assessment Tool | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- What Works in Schools: Sexual Health Services | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Information for Adolescents: Bleeding disorders in tweens and teens may go undiagnosed | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Transitioning to Adult Health Care | GotTransition.org
- Know Your Rights: Reproductive Health Care | ReproductiveRights.gov
Promote self-care to support mental health
Adults can support mental health by sharing and facilitating self-care practices that young people can use in their daily lives to manage stress, regulate emotions, sustain energy levels, and prevent or treat illnesses.
Resources from OPA and OPA Grantees
- Mental Health in Adolescents | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Mental Health Resources | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Healthy Relationship Wheel and Relationship Spectrum | Reproductive Health National Training Center
- Trauma-Informed Approach in Adolescent Health | Reproductive Health National Training Center
Resources from HHS Partners
- COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Mental Health | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- School Connectedness | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Caring for Your Mental Health | National Institute of Mental Health
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Protecting Youth Mental Health | Surgeon General’s 2021 Public Health Advisory
- Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs | U.S. Department of Education resource on RHNTC.org
- Youth Mental Health and Well-being in Faith and Community Settings | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Celebrate ways that communities support health
Communities are working to advance adolescent health by elevating youth voice, prioritizing meaningful youth engagement, building on young people’s strengths and talents, improving access to services in various settings, and making services and supports more youth friendly.
Resources from OPA and OPA Grantees
- Meaningful Youth Engagement | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- TPP Innovation Grants Show Positive Results | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Youth Create!: A Collection of Youth-Created Content | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Engaging Diverse Community Partners Job Aid | Reproductive Health National Training Center
- Inspire Change Through Social Media: A Toolkit for OPA TPP Grantees (also available in Spanish) | Reproductive Health National Training Center
- Promoting Youth-Friendly Environments in Family Planning Clinics Webinar | Reproductive Health National Training Center
Resources from HHS Partners
- What Works in Schools | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Youth Advisory Councils | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Substance Use Prevention Resources Youth and College Students | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Resource Guide for Building Sustainable Programs (Revised 2019) | U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Positive Youth Development | Youth.gov
Equip adults to support adolescent health
All adults, whether they live with youth or not, have important roles to play in providing support to young people that can protect youth from many risk behaviors and negative health outcomes.
Resources from OPA and OPA Grantees
- Adolescent Development Explained | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Conversation Tools for Talking With Your Teen | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Talking with Teens about Relationships | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- Tips for Parents and Caregivers of Teens | HHS Office of Population Affairs
- 7 Tips for Youth-Supporting Professionals for Talking with Youth About Sexual and Reproductive Health | Activate Center
- Strategies for Engaging Parents and Caregivers Tip Sheet | HHS Office of Population Affairs resource on RHNTC.org
- Develop an Elevator Pitch to Engage Caregivers Job Aid| Reproductive Health National Training Center
- Talking with Teens about Sex: Resources for Caregivers | Reproductive Health National Training Center
Resources from HHS Partners
- Youth/Adult Co-Facilitation Modules | Adolescent Health Initiative
- Information for Parents with Teens (Ages 12-19) | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Start A Conversation: 10 Questions Teens Ask About Drugs and Health | National Institute on Drug Abuse
- "Talk. They Hear You."® Campaign | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) | Youth.gov
National Adolescent Health Month™, NAHM™, and the NAHM logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Use of these marks without prior approval by HHS is strictly prohibited.