Boston Public Health Commission partnered with 30 Big Cities Health Coalition members to conduct a national landscape analysis that highlights city and county programs to improve adolescent health.

The big picture: The health departments are deploying wide-ranging, effective, and innovative strategies to improve adolescent health.

Almost all health departments provide direct clinical and health promotion services to adolescents. Many also serve as technical experts and capacity builders for other youth-serving organizations.

The details:

Mental health: Mental health was noted by many cities/counties as a high priority topic since COVID. City health departments are supporting adolescent mental health through free teletherapy, increased access to mental health staff at school, a localized mental health resource website, social emotional learning programs, Mental Health First Aid trainings, youth mental health summits, free grief counseling for adolescents, etc.
Substance use: Many cities/counties are addressing adolescent substance use. Health departments are working to reduce youth substance misuse through educational programs in schools and out-of-school youth programs; technical assistance, training, and counseling guides for adults (schools, clinicians, caregivers); mass media and social media campaigns; youth coalitions; positive youth development and recreational programming; etc.