Diverse youth include adolescents of different races, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and class, cultural or religious backgrounds. Despite great strides in improving adolescent health outcomes, some youth population groups still carry a severe and disproportionate burden of teen pregnancies and births.
Addressing the needs of diverse populations requires more than acknowledging that they are a part of the community. It means meeting them where they are and accommodating their needs in a way that makes them feel valued and safe.
The Working with Diverse Communities component works to build the capacity of Part A grantees to: 1) reach, serve, and retain in teen pregnancy prevention programs, youth who are marginalized and from diverse communities, and 2) provide evidence-based programs that meet the needs of youth from diverse communities.
Within this section you will find Diverse Youth resources and tools that will help you to do these things, focusing on topics such as: youth engagement, positive youth development, engagement of young males in teen pregnancy prevention programs, outreach and referral strategies to engage marginalized youth and promising practices for serving diverse youth, including African American youth, Latino youth, youth in state care, GLBTQ youth, and pregnant and parenting teens.
Sexual Health Disparities among Disenfranchised Youth
Oregon Health Authority and Pathways to Positive Futures, 2011– This report includes research briefs on sexual health disparities experienced by seven subpopulations of disenfranchised youth, including youth in corrections, youth with developmental disabilities, youth in foster care, homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, youth with mental health conditions and youth who have experienced sexual abuse. PDF
Young Men’s Clinic
http://www.youngmensclinic.org/
New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH)/Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) – The Young Men’s Clinic (YMC), one of the best known clinics for males in the country, offers low-cost, high-quality, “male-friendly” health services for all men 13-35 years of age, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health. Serving a diverse population primarily from Washington Heights, Harlem, and the Bronx, the YMC offers a wide array of services, including routine medical care, STI and HIV testing, counseling, health information, free condoms, and referrals for employment, educational, vocational, health, and social services.
