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ADOLESCENT HEALTH AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

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Our Mission

Ensuring young people most vulnerable to health risks such as poor dietary choices, inadequate physical activity, physical and emotional abuse, substance abuse, and gang involvement have access to free, medically accurate, age-appropriate, evidence-based risk reduction education and adult preparation programs.

GOALS OF THE PROGRAM

Help support adolescents in their academic and social growth, promote a positive school climate and culture, encourage respect for diversity and take a proactive role in nurturing students by providing them with the knowledge to make healthy choices through education, mentoring, recreation and skill building, understanding that all young people need support, guidance, and opportunities. 

At-risk behaviors are identified as (but not limited to): 

  • School attendance issues
  • School academic issues
  • Grade retention
  • Violence involvement (Sexual/Gangs/Bullying)
  • Disciplinary issues
  • Substance Abuse

COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM

Provide medically accurate, age-appropriate, and evidence-based designs to help adolescents develop the skills and motivation necessary to reduce risk-related behaviors.

In addition to risk reduction education, the program offers services to prepare young people for adulthood by implementing activities that address: Healthy Relationships, Positive Adolescent Development, Healthy Life Skills, Career Preparation, Financial Literacy, Leadership Development Communication and Decision-Making These activities build self-esteem and confidence and encourage youth to assess themselves and set developmental goals.

Adolescent Health Youth Development Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a selected group of students who are committed to affecting positive change within their school environment. Providing youth an opportunity to develop skills that empower them to make a positive change and influence peer attitudes and behaviors meeting weekly dedicated to creating and supporting healthy, safe, and welcoming schools.

We provide resources that we hope will make it easier for parents to understand their positive role in successfully engaging their children in ‘tough talks. Healthy Relationships, and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).

AHYD Case Managers work with school personnel to identify and address social factors contributing to school failure. These factors include but are not limited to: connecting families to resources in the school and the community, keeping students in the classroom and engaged in the learning process, and linking them to or coordinating with youth-serving agencies for referrals and support services Referring students to appropriate supportive services, including housing, educational, vocational, comprehensive medical, mental, and dental services to secure high-quality, private practice services, including specialist, vision, and orthodontic care.

Partnering with View Point Health to provide the Georgia APEX program within AHYD Teen Centers increases timely identification and treatment of adolescents struggling with mental health, substance use, and emotional problems. View Point Health provides mental health professionals onsite at high school through the Georgia APEX Project. In corporation with school staff, View Points’ therapists assess and identify a student’s mental health needs and determine how best to meet their individual needs. Appointments can be scheduled during the school day, before or after school, or at home if desired. Services include Onsite mental health professionals, Individual and group counseling, Community Support Services, Psychiatric and nursing services, Linkage and referral to other services, and Training and support for school personnel.

Monthly public awareness events facilitated around adolescent health-related issues/topics. All events are accessible to the entire school population during the student’s lunch periods in the commons disseminating information on adolescent health-related issues/topics listed below: 

  • Suicide
  • Drugs and Alcohol
  • Healthy Eating
  • Puberty and Hygiene
  • Bullying
  • STDs/HIV Prevention
  • Healthy Relationships & Teen Dating Violence
  • Smoking/Tobacco  

Plan and provide training opportunities to youth-serving professionals, parents, community members, or youth. Facilitate training on Adolescent Friendly Practices utilizing the Spark Training Components: Youth Friendliness, Nonverbal Communication, Adolescent Brain Development, and Being an Askable Adult.

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Community Health Assessment / Community Health Improvement Plans

Community Health Assessments (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) have been created for the three counties we serve.

The community-wide health assessment, which examines the county’s health status, is intended to help shape the collaborative efforts to improve the health of residents.

The community health improvement plan describes how the Health Department and a variety of community partners will work together to improve the health of the population through various projects and programs.

Access each county’s CHA and CHIP below:

Gwinnett County

Newton County

Rockdale County

To request previous versions of the CHA and CHIP, contact us.

What’s an epidemiologist?​

Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. They seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education and health policy.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/

Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for an extensive and highly-competitive network of benefits.

Benefits package includes:

  • 13 paid holidays per year

  • Three weeks of Annual (Vacation) Leave per year

  • Three weeks of Sick Leave per year

  • Retirement plan through the State of Georgia Employee’s Retirement System which provides for a defined monthly pension upon retirement

  • 401(k) retirement savings plan to supplement pension plan, which includes an agency contribution based on the employee’s contribution amount

  • Life Insurance
    Payroll deductible health insurance and flexible benefits options including Dental, Vision, Long-term Care, Spouse Life, Dependent Life, AD&D, as well as Short-term and Long-term Disability

  • Medical and Childcare Spending Accounts available

  • Employees are eligible to become members of the Atlanta Postal Credit Union and/or the Georgia’s Own Credit Union.