Federal
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. Information from AHRQ's research helps people make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services. The site includes research and tools on child health issues, with publications available to be downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The STATE System was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The STATE System is designed to integrate many data sources to provide comprehensive summary data and facilitate research and consistent data interpretation. This site is an electronic data warehouse containing up-to-date and historical state-level data on tobacco use prevention and control.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
The MCH Policy Research Center is a health policy group that provides federal and state policymakers, public health officials, and provider and family organizations with analysis, objective research, and strategic guidance on financing and service delivery issues affecting children and adolescents, particularly those with special needs and those from low-income families. The site has information on service/practice areas and projects, as well as publications that can be downloaded at no charge or ordered for a small fee.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
NCJRS is a federally funded resource offering justice and substance abuse information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide. NCJRS's web site has comprehensive sections on Law Enforcement, Juvenile Justice and Drugs & Crime.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
Violence •
The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) represents the combined work of professionals in different fields, and is associated with several federal agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. The web site features the most comprehensive sources of statistical, research, and educational documents addressing suicide nationally and by state, most of which can be viewed online or downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
The National Youth Development Information Center (NYDIC) is a project of the National Collaboration for Youth. NYDIC provides practice-related information about youth development to national and local youth-serving organizations at low cost or no cost. The web site has information about policy issues, including recent alerts and position papers. It has one of the largest online libraries, providing practice-related publications at little or no charge.
Filed Under:
Youth Development •
The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and programs at the state, district, school, and classroom levels. The Study is housed in the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
Non-Federal
The Academy for Educational Development involves youth in solving critical social problems to come up innovative, lasting solutions. In areas ranging from education to governance to health, AED works with youth around the globe to give them the skills and confidence they need to meet the challenges and opportunities of our changing world. The youth section on the site provides information on projects and publications that focus on youth development and policy research.
Filed Under:
Youth Development •
This organization is an alliance of consumer health and safety groups and insurance companies that advocates for state and federal laws, policies and programs that reduce traffic related injuries and fatalities. The website includes a section on teen drivers with graduated licensing nformation and crash statistics, and also contains a state-by-state listing of policies aimed at reducing motor vehicle related injuries and deaths.
Filed Under:
Unintentional Injury •
Advocates for Youth champions efforts to help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. It works both in the United States and in developing countries with a sole focus on adolescent reproductive and sexual health. The web site has information on certain topics that are directed towards policymakers and all other publications can be downloaded at no charge or ordered for a small fee.
Filed Under:
Reproductive Health •
The Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) is a nonprofit organization focused on sexual and reproductive health research, policy analysis and public education. AGI aims to protect the reproductive choices of all women and men in the United States and throughout the world. The web site has monthly updates of its State Policies in Brief publications, which provide information on key issues affecting sexual and reproductive health and rights. The site also has other publications that can be viewed online or downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
Reproductive Health •
The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is to attain optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. AAP Policy brings together a constellation of policy documents from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Policy Statements, Clinical Reports, Clinical Practice Guidelines, Technical Reports, and Parent Pages can all be found at this site.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The American Medical Association (AMA) developed a section, Adolescent Health On-Line, dedicated to the promotion of adolescent health through prevention. The web site is a source for information on adolescent health care and preventive services, clinical guidelines, and has reports/briefs that can be downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The Brady Campaign is dedicated to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in their communities. The Brady Campaign works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies through grassroots activism, electing pro-gun control public officials and increasing public awareness of gun violence. The site offers information on federal and state gun laws.
Filed Under:
Violence •
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is fighting to free America’s youth from tobacco and to create a healthier environment. The Campaign is the nation’s largest non-governmental initiative ever launched to protect children from tobacco addiction and exposure to secondhand smoke. The web site has information and publications that can be viewed online or downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a national non-profit that works to improve the lives of low-income people. CLASP’s mission is to improve the economic security, educational and workforce prospects, and family stability of low-income parents, children, and youth and to secure equal justice for all. The site has information and publications on many topics, such as disconnected youth, childbearing and pregnancy prevention and welfare, available at no charge.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
Child Trends conducts research and provides science-based information to improve the decisions, programs, and policies that affect children. The web site has a large and diverse list of youth development publications that be downloaded at no charge. It also has a Databank which summarizes recent research, highlights national goals, and links to other sources of data and research on children.
Filed Under:
Youth Development •
Children Now is a national organization that focuses on children to ensure that they are the top public policy priority. Children Now’s Health Policy Program fights to ensure that all children have access to high-quality affordable health care, including oral care. The site includes information and publications on advocacy for children's health and education.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The mission of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF's site has information on child health, insurance, and other advocacy issues.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. (EDAP), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the awareness and prevention of eating disorders through education and community activism. The web site has information that can be viewed online or downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
Children’s Safety Network works with health professionals and programs to: provide technical assistance and information, facilitate the implementation and evaluation of injury prevention programs, and conduct analytical and policy activities that improve injury and violence prevention activities in the United States. The site contains state profiles and publications that can be ordered at no charge.
Filed Under:
Unintentional Injury •
The Harvard School of Public Health - Center for Health Communication has helped pioneer the field of mass communication and public health by researching and analyzing the contributions of mass communication to behavior change and policy, by preparing future health leaders to utilize communication strategies, and by strengthening communication between journalists and health professionals. The site includes information and publications on youth policy projects for alcohol use, violence and parenting.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The Institute for Child Health Policy is a unique, multi-disciplinary academic unit of the University of Florida. Our work centers on issues of health and health care for children and youth. The Institute houses two separate but integrated divisions: one dedicated to research and evaluation, and one dedicated to policy and program affairs. The site has information, reports and briefs available at no charge.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is an independent philanthropy focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation in three main areas: health policy, media and public education, and health and development in South Africa. The site has daily reports on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. The State Health Facts section allows the user to look up information on HIV/AIDS, health coverage, Medicaid, SCHIP, managed care and other insurance information by state. The site also has a listserv that can be subcribed to, and information and publications can be viewed online, downloaded or ordered at no charge.
Filed Under:
Reproductive Health •
The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) works to strengthen state leadership in educational policymaking, promote excellence in the education of all students, advocate equality of access to educational opportunity, and assure continued citizen support for public education. NASBE's free membership is kept abreast of the latest developments in public policy via several key tools, including the weekly Federal Update, monthly Legislative Briefs, monthly Policy Updates, and monthly Legal Briefs. The site provides educational health policy briefs and reports, as well as links to state education agencies.
Filed Under:
Youth Development •
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan campaign to improve the well-being of children, youth and families by reducing teen pregnancy. The web site offers information on the Public Policy program, which is an effort to increase the National Campaign's involvement in a range of national public policy issues related to teen pregnancy prevention and to the work of the Campaign. Publications and other resources can be viewed online or downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
Reproductive Health •
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. Through legislation, states have addressed children's and adolescents' health issues such as SCHIP, school health, and reproductive health. The site includes information and publications on such legislation at no charge.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The National Eating Disorders Association is a founding member of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action. The coalition’s goals are to to: Increase funding for research, education, prevention, and improved training; Encourage federal policymakers to improve access to eating disorders care; and, Promote the national awareness of eating disorders as a public health problem. The site has materials, information and program descriptions on advocating for healthier bodies and eating habits.
Filed Under:
Chronic Diseases •
The Natonal Governors Association Center for Best Practices is the nation's only dedicated consulting firm for governors and their key policy staff. The Center's mission is to develop and implement innovative solutions to public policy challenges. This site provides many policy-related publications for youth, including issues such as insurance, juvenile justice and education.
Filed Under:
Youth Development •
The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. The web site offers information and links on mental illness advocacy among children and families. Position statements and other publications can be downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
The National Policy Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs promotes comprehensive, family centered systems of care for children with special health care needs and their families. The center gathers and disseminates information on improving systems of care, conducts policy research, develops methods for evaluating
integrated systems of care, provides support and information for family advocacy efforts, and provides monitoring and system-design tools to managed care organizations. This site has briefs and articles available at no charge, as well as links to related resources.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign (NYADMC) is a multi-dimensional initiative designed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy to educate and empower youth to reject illicit drugs. The web site has links to it’s specific sites directed towards parents and teens, and publications can be viewed online or downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
Public/Private Ventures (P/PV). Youth policy and programming are among the top priorities for P/PV. The organization is most interested in finding effective policies and programs for the country’s disadvantaged youth, such as institutionalized youth and those with learning disorders. The site has information and publications on youth development programs that can be viewed or downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
Youth Development •
The School Nutrition Association, formerly known as the American School Food Service Association, has been advancing the availability, quality and acceptance of school nutrition programs and its activities are: providing education and training; setting standards through certification and credentialing; gathering and transmitting regulatory, legislative, industry, nutritional and other types of information related to school nutrition; and representing the nutritional interests of all children. The web site has a section on legislation, as well as an interactive wellness system where you can track personal progress. Information and publications about food and nutrition can be ordered for a fee.
Filed Under:
Chronic Diseases •
The Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) is a multidisciplinary organization that aims to improve the physical and psychosocial health and well-being of all adolescents. SAM has a section on adolescent advocacy/policy on its web site, including position statements and papers that can be downloaded at no charge.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
Through its biennial meetings and publishing effort, the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) promotes the dissemination of research on adolescents and serves as a network and forum for its members. SRA publishes both the Journal of Research on Adolescence and a biannual newsletter. The site also has access to reports and a section for students.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the Federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. SAMHSA is made up of three centers: The Center for Mental Health Services, The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The web site features a comprehensive clearinghouse on mental health and substance abuse related data, such as the The National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH), and publications that can be viewed online or downloaded at no charge. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention section provides information on national and state prevention programs, including an interactive technical assistance online.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
The Advocacy Insitute works to make social justice leadership strategic, effective, and sustainable in pursuit of a just world. One area in which it focuses is youth tobacco control, and many papers are available to be viewed online. The site has links to other advocacy & leadership organizations, as well as email-circulated newsletter that can be subscribed to.
Filed Under:
Chronic Diseases •
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law was founded in 1972 by a group of committed lawyers and professionals in mental health and mental retardation. Known until 1993 as the Mental Health Law Project, the name today honors the federal appeals court judge whose landmark decisions pioneered the field of mental health law. A key report, Avoiding Cruel Choices: A Guide for Policymakers and Family Organizations on Medicaid's role in Preventing Custody Relinquishment, can be found on the site. The center also has an online bulletin which gives updates on legislation for mental health issues.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
The Urban Institute is a social policy research organization that measures effects, compares options, shows which stakeholders get the most and least, tests conventional wisdom, reveals trends, and makes costs, benefits and risks explicit. The site has many policy centers, including Assessing the New Federalism, Education, Health and Justice. Each policy center has its own group of information & publications related to youth policy available at no charge.
Filed Under:
General Middle Childhood, Adolescent & Young Adult Health •
The School Mental Health Project (SMHP) works closely with school districts, state agencies, the New American Schools Urban Learning Center model, and organizations and colleagues across the U.S. The Center was extablished as part of a major initiative to foster mental health in schools. The web site hosts a clearinghouse of articles and materials designed to assist service providers in delivering mental health services in schools, including program planning & development strategies, model program descriptions and funding opportunities, as well as technical assistance services. Most materials, including reports on policies in mental health, can be downloaded in PDF at no charge or ordered for a fee.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
The Center for School Mental Health Assistance (CSMHA) provides leadership and technical assistance to advance effective interdisciplinary school-based mental health programs. The web site has information about projects, such as a Mental Health Outcomes Group and Youth & Tobacco, a resource library, and links to related web sites. Additionally, the Center has information on conferences, articles, presentations and materials that can be downloaded at no charge or ordered for a small fee.
Filed Under:
Mental Health & Substance Abuse •
