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About AHI

The Adolescent Health Initiative (AHI), a program of Community Health Services at the University of Michigan Health, works to transform the health care landscape to optimize adolescent health and well-being through practice improvement, education, research, and youth and community engagement.

We partner with primary care, school-based health, and youth-serving organizations that have spanned over 44 states. Our Team develops innovative, evidence-driven interventions through national and local partnerships.

As an organization, we are guided by our youth council, AHI’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC TAC), who helps ensure youth voice is at the center of our work.

Mission

To advance innovative adolescent-centered health care through practice improvement, education, research, and youth and community engagement.

Vision

To transform the health care landscape to optimize adolescent and young adult health and well-being.

Core Values

  • Collaboration
  • Diversity
  • Equity
  • Inclusion
  • Expertise
  • Innovation
  • Responsiveness
  • Quality

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

AHI is guided by the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a deep commitment to racial justice.

One of our primary goals is to prepare health care professionals to better support adolescents across and within all of their intersecting identities. Our Team works to ensure that all of our resources, events, and quality improvement models promote evidence-based practices and prioritize care for youth across a wide spectrum of identities. This includes, but is not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and nonbinary youth, youth across intersecting racial and ethnic identities and experiences, migrant youth, young people across socioeconomic statuses, systems-involved youth, young people from all religious backgrounds, expectant or parenting teens, adolescents that have disabilities or identify as disabled, and any other identity marker that impacts a young person’s experience as it relates to health. AHI is committed to continuously expanding our understanding of how systems impact adolescents’ needs, and we recognize that this work is never complete. Addressing how power and oppression shape young people’s experiences in health care means being in an ongoing cycle of learning, which includes recognizing the gaps in understanding and the need for action.

The AHI Team invites feedback, collaboration, and critical analysis of our work. If you are interested in learning more or have questions, let’s be in conversation. You can reach AHI at adolescenthealth@umich.edu.

Defining Adolescence

Based on the stages of adolescent development, we define adolescence as the period between ages 12-24 years. This period begins in early adolescence when youth are starting puberty and extends through age 24 when physiological changes are complete, and the brain is fully developed. Adolescence is an exciting time for development that also comes with specific health-related needs. At AHI, we are happy to be your resource for supporting adolescents as they transition from childhood to adulthood.

For more information on adolescent development, check out our Spark training on Adolescent Brain Development.

What We Do

Adolescents have unique health care needs, which call for innovative, youth-centered, evidence-based educational opportunities for the professionals who serve them. There are several ways our team can support your health center in becoming more adolescent-centered.

Our Impact

Over the years, AHI has received national and international recognition for our innovative approaches to transforming health care for adolescents and young adults. Check out a few data points highlighting our impact:

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health care professionals in our online communities
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event attendees
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health centers have participated in the ACM/ACE-AP

Awards & Recognition

Former AHI staff receiving awards

Hilary E.C. Millar Award 2023

The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine’s 2023 Hilary E.C. Millar Award for Innovative Approaches to Adolescent Health Care for the Adolescent Champion Model.

2022 Naveed Arif Iqball Award for Mental Health Advocacy and Stigma Reduction

The Eisenberg Family Depression Center selected AHI to receive the 2022 Naveed Arif Iqball Award for Mental Health Advocacy and Stigma Reduction Award to help fund the 2023 Connection Session, Intersections: Supporting youth, their identities, and their mental health needs across disciplines.

IPFCC Partnership Award 2018

The Institute For Patient- and Family-Centered Care selected the Adolescent Health Initiative to receive the 2018 Partnership Award for the Youth-Led Health Center Assessment Process.

STFM Innovative Program Award 2017

The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine selected the Adolescent Health Initiative to receive the 2017 STFM Innovative Program Award for the Adolescent Champion Model.

Hilary E.C. Millar Award 2016

The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine’s 2016 Hilary E.C. Millar Award for Innovative Approaches to Adolescent Health Care.

University of Michigan President's Innovation 2016

The University of Michigan’s 2016 President’s Innovation Finalist for the Train the Trainer Workshop of Providing Patient-Centered Care to Transgender Adolescents.

University of Michigan's President's Innovation 2015

The University of Michigan’s 2015 Presidents Innovation Finalist for the Adolescent Champion Model.

Outstanding Emerging Innovation Program 2015

Healthy Teen Network’s 2015 Award for Outstanding Emerging Innovation Program for the Adolescent Champion Model.

Learning Catalyst Award 2015

The University of Michigan Health System’s 2015 Learning Catalyst Award for Spark trainings.

We Can Help

We can support your health center or organization to become more adolescent-centered. Contact us today for more information!