Adolescence is a time of major transition, however, health care services in the United States today are not designed to help young people develop healthy routines, behaviors, and relationships that they can carry into their adult lives. While most adolescents at this stage of life are thriving, many of them have difficulty gaining access to necessary services; other engage in risky behaviors that can jeopardize their health during these formative years and also contribute to poor health outcomes in adulthood. Missed opportunities for disease prevention and health promotion are two major problematic features of our nation's health services system for adolescents. Recognizing that health care providers play an important role in fostering healthy behaviors among adolescents, Adolescent Health Services examines the health status of adolescents and reviews the separate and uncoordinated programs and services delivered in multiple public and private health care settings. The book provides guidance to administrators in public and private health care agencies, health care workers, guidance counselors, parents, school administrators, and policy makers on investing in, strengthening, and improving an integrated health system for adolescents.

This three volume work presents the Office of Technology's assessment of the physical, emotional, and behavioral health status of contemporary American adolescents, including those living in poverty, racial and ethnic minority groups, Native Americans, and rural adolescents. Specific topics covered are identifying risk and protective factors for adolescent health problems, evaluating options in the organization of health services and technologies available to adolescents, assessing options in the conduct of national health surveys to improve collection of adolescent health statistics, and identifying gaps in research on the health and behavior of adolescents.