NCJ Number
145348
Journal
Journal of School Health Volume: 62 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1992) Pages: 167- 174
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
An assessment of adolescent health by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) contradicted the conventional wisdom that adolescents in the United States are so healthy that they do not require health and related services and also revealed that adolescents often face formidable barriers in trying to obtain health care.
Abstract
OTA suggested that Congress could act to increase adolescents' access to health care, most effectively by supporting school-based or community-based comprehensive health services specifically for adolescents. In addition, the Federal role in adolescent health should be restructured and reinvigorated by creating an office of adolescent health in the executive branch of the government. Furthermore, Congress should also improve adolescents' social environments should be improved by providing more support to the families, limiting adolescents' access to guns, expanding recreational opportunities for adolescents, and further supporting opportunities for community service. Since the OTA report was issued, Congress has taken several actions in response to adolescent health needs. Figures and 19 references