2012 Summer Institute in Adolescent Health
Equal Access, Equal Say: Achieving Health Equity for All Young People
When: July 30th – August 1st, 2012
Where: Minnesota Department of Health, Snelling Office Park Building, St. Paul, MN
To register: http://www.nursing.umn.edu/Adolescent_Nursing/Continuing_Education/home.html
For more information: Go to our website at www.nursing.umn.edu/can and click on the continuing education link.
Change – the one word that best epitomizes adolescence – changing bodies, changing schools, changing friends. While change is essential for healthy transitions to adulthood, it can also increase vulnerability. For young people, inequitable conditions in families, schools, and communities can lead to dramatically differing pathways to adulthood, some healthier than others. Inequities in social determinants of health abound – socio-economic status, housing, physical environment, food security, neighborhood safety, social support, health care services, transportation, and working conditions, to name a few.
What helps all young people achieve their highest level of health? Assuring optimal health for all requires equalizing the conditions for health – life-skills, access to quality services, educational attainment, readiness for gainful employment, and opportunities to participate as citizens. This means that we must pay attention to creating services and programs that are accessible, acceptable, appropriate, and effective.
During the 2012 Summer Institute in Adolescent Health, consider the myriad of social, political, educational, environmental and economic conditions that underlie disparities in health. Visit settings that are successfully addressing avoidable inequalities that impact adolescents. Talk with young people and their program leaders along with health providers and educators who have walked the talk of health equity in just, creative, and empowering ways. Learn strategies for assuring supportive environments, sustaining authentic relationships, and providing services that are responsive to the uniqueness of each young person. Gain new skills to effectively advocate for health equity for all young people.
For questions, please contact Jenna Baumgartner, Program Coordinator, at ude.nmunull@2720muab or 612-626-0606.
2012 Summer Institute Brochure