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Adolescent Health Toolkit

Adolescents Health Toolkit: For Schools and Communities

Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and change. During this time, important health habits are created and lay the foundation for a lifetime of health consequences. If the health habits are positive, then the consequences should be a lifetime of good health and well-being. If adolescents make poor health choices, however, the consequences are grim and include the potential for chronic disease, decreased quality of life, and even decreased life span.

This toolkit was prepared to serve as a resource for teachers, school nurses, school staff and community partners who encounter adolescents on a daily basis. The goal was that you, as front line partners in promoting adolescent health, would have access to resources that will support your success.

Why Annual Checkups Are Important

A teenager experiences lots of changes within a year. During the teenage years, the body is growing and changing faster than at any other point in life. If a child is healthy, he or she (or his or her parents) may think they don't need a checkup every year. They may just see their health care provider when they are sick, but not for a regular checkup. Teens need yearly checkups, too!

Think of your body like a car. To keep your car running, you have to do certain things-like fill the gas tank or put air in the tires. Every now and then, you have to take your car in for a tune-up. Even if your car is running well, the mechanic will check to make sure you have enough oil and all the parts are working correctly. Sometimes the mechanic will find problems you didn't even know about. They can fix those problems so that you won't have bigger problems later (like getting stuck on the side of the road).

A teen's yearly visits are like those tune-ups for your car. The visit is a chance for the child's primary care provider to ensure he or she is growing and developing well and to make sure there are no signs of major health problems. It is also a great time for parents to ask questions-like how to deal with a child who is going through puberty or how to deal with mood swings, or about things that may have been bothering the parent or the child. The primary care provider does more than listen to a teen's heart-they are able to talk to the teen about how things are going at school or home, about relationships, or about tough choices the teen is having to make. They can also talk with parents and help them to understand more about what their teen is going through, give them tips on raising a teenager, and help them to be the best parents they can be for their child. For example, some parents are not sure how to talk to their children about drugs or sex. The teen's provider has special training in these areas and can help parents cope with these tough topics. The parents may get as much information out of the visit as their teens do!

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What Happens at the Yearly Checkup?

At the yearly checkup, the teen's primary care provider will perform a physical exam. This includes: listening to the heart and lungs; looking in the eyes, ears, nose and throat; pressing on the abdomen; checking the muscles, bones, and reflexes; and looking at the skin. The provider will also ask some questions to find out how the teen is developing and whether they are having problems in a certain area.

The teen may need his or her vision and hearing checked. This is only required during certain years, but if there is a concern about how a child sees or hears, the provider can check on those things as needed. The provider may also need to test for problems like anemia or urine infections, which is done by taking a sample of the child's blood or urine-if there is concern for these problems.

The primary care provider will talk to the parent and teen about whether shots (immunizations) are up to date. If not, the provider will recommend which immunizations the teens should receive (see immunizations section below). The provider will also talk with the parent and teen about specific things to stay healthy-like brushing teeth, wearing helmets and seatbelts, getting a good night's sleep, and eating a balanced diet.

Finally, at some point during the visit, the teen's provider will most likely ask the parent to step out of the room. This is important because it gives the teen an opportunity to talk with the provider about things that may be embarrassing or scary to them - things they may not want to discuss with you in the room. Your teen's provider will keep this information confidential (see confidentiality section below) unless he or she believes that your child is in danger of hurting themselves or someone else, or if he or she believes that someone is harming your child.

These links can give you more information about the yearly checkup:

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Will The Teen Need to Get Shots?

Maybe. Most teenagers have not had any shots (also called immunizations or vaccines) since Kindergarten, but they need some shots in order to stay healthy. Shots aren't just for little kids! Parents should check with their teen's provider when they go for their yearly visit to see if they need any of these shots:

  • Tdap: This booster shot provides protection from pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria and tetanus (lockjaw). This shot is important because it also protects not only the teen but also others around the teen who could get sick from whooping cough. Want to hear what whooping cough sounds like? Click here.
  • HPV: This vaccine helps protect teens against genital warts (caused by human papillomavirus) and some types of cervical cancer. Both boys and girls should get this vaccine.
  • Meningococcal meningitis: This vaccine helps protect teens against an infection of the fluid around the brain. If a teen were to get this infection, they could die within a matter of hours-so it is very important to be protected by getting the vaccine.
  • Flu: It is important to get a flu shot every year. Individuals who get sick with the flu have high fevers, body aches, cough and runny nose, and usually feel miserable. Some people can get very sick and end up in the hospital, or even die. Getting the flu shot every year will help protect the teen against the types of flu spreading in the community. Some teens may be able to get the nasal spray instead of the shot-the spray is an acceptable option if the teen doesn't have asthma or other major medical problems.

If you need more information about immunizations, here are some reliable sources:

Immunization tools that you may find useful:

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What about Confidentiality?

Having a person to confide in is very important to teens. If a teen believest a provider is going to tell other people about his or her problems, the teen is less likely to even go to the provider. This means teens are not getting the regular checkups they need in order to stay healthy. If teens don't come for their checkups, it also means their providers don't have the opportunity to talk with the teen about how to make good choices that will keep them healthy.

During the checkup, providers may ask the parent to step out of the room so they can talk to the adolescent alone. This is a very important time for the teen to feel open to talk to the provider one-on-one. Sometimes the teen may want to talk to their primary care provider about things that are very personal - things they may not even want his or her parents. When the teen has a visit with their primary care provider, what they talk about is confidential-this means the teen's provider will not share that information with anyone else. The only time the provider is required to share that information is if he or she thinks the teen is in danger of hurting him/herself or someone else, or if someone is hurting the teen. In those cases, the provider is required by law to get help for the teen (and this means they will have to tell someone else what the teen told them).

Parents play an important role in keeping teens healthy, so the teen's provider will want to hear from parents during the yearly checkup. Parents should feel free to say what's on their mind and make sure the provider knows their concerns.

Primary care providers want to work with parents to keep teens healthy. Just because they talk to the teen with his or her parent out of the room doesn't mean that the provider wants to keep everything hidden from the parent. The provider will often encourage the teen to talk with their parents about the things that are bothering them, or about risky choices that they make. If parents don't give their teens the space to talk with their provider alone, however, those discussions may never happen, and the teen's health could be in jeopardy.

Want to learn more about teenagers and confidentiality? Check out this fact sheet with information about Tennessee Youth Laws and Teen Rights.

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How Can You Help Teens and Their Families Find a Provider?

It is important every teen has a primary care provider-someone who knows all about their health, who sees them for their yearly checkups and also when they are sick. Families should try to stick with one provider-hopping around from one provider to another could mean a child won't get the good care that they need, or important information about the child's health may be lost.

Does a family need help finding a provider? Help them try the resources below:

If you know of providers in your community, suggest those to the family. Many times, school staff will know providers in their community who would be a good fit for a particular student or family.

For Teens and Families with TennCare

  • If a teen has TennCare, then the teen will be assigned a primary care provider-this is a provider who can see them for their yearly checkups and also when they are sick. Families can call the primary care provider (listed on the insurance card) to set up an appointment time. If that provider is not convenient for the family or the family wishes to select another provider, they should call their managed care organization (the number is on the insurance card) and ask for another provider.

For Teens and Families with Other Types of Insurance

  • If the teen or family has other types of health insurance, they should check with their insurance company to see what providers are covered in their network. The contact number for the insurance company should be on the insurance card.

For Teens and Families with No Insurance

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How Do I Help Teens and Parents Find More Information?

Teens and their parents have access to more information than ever before. Sometimes this can be a good thing-if the information comes from a credible source. Sometimes teens and families will find information from sources that may not be very reliable (for example, from their peers, or on the internet). You can be a great resource to help point teens and families in the right direction. In addition to your own knowledge, the links below can connect teens and families (and even you!) with good knowledge to stay healthy.

General Health Information

Specific Health Topics

Parenting Tips

Information about Adolescent Development

Resources for School Staff

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Is a Teen in Danger? Do They Need Help Now?

If you think that a teen is in danger of hurting themselves or someone else, you should get help for them NOW! There are people who want to help teens and their families. Please call one of the following numbers:

  • 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • 911

Web Resources

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Important Forms and Other Information


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