The adolescent and young adult (AYA) years are the second critical period of the lifecourse bringing challenges and opportunities with lifelong implications for health. Development is shaped by multiple frequently changing contexts and developments including social determinants of health. Transdisciplinary research can improve health through responding to current trends advancing equity improving health in the transition to young adulthood and improving models of care. An AYA Health Research Network ('Network') will full engagement of AYAs and their families including those from underserved communities can create a comprehensive research agenda and translate findings into practice.
Goals and objectives:
Our goals & objectives are to: (1) Grow and extend a national multi-site collaborative Research Network that will accelerate the translation of research into MCH AYA practice; (2) GOAL 2: Promote scientific collaboration transdisciplinary collaborative research focused on (a) increasing equity and engaging AYAs parent/caregivers and the community that will enhance the evidence-base for AYA health interventions and address current trends; (b) increase equity in health and safety outcomes for AYA focusing on underserved populations; (c) improve health outcomes in the transition from adolescence to young adulthood; and (d) examine how models of care can be best accessed and utilized by AYAs from underserved populations. (3) Enhance the research training and mentorship of diverse emerging MCH investigators through the use of innovative mentorship/ research experiences and manuscript development. (4) Disseminate and translate into practice new and emerging research findings relating to AYA health to a broad audience including researchers policymakers educators relevant professionals in the health community and education sectors families and AYAs. METHODOLOGY: We shall establish a Network Coordinating Center that will advance research through Research Teams guided by a Steering Committee that meets monthly and a National Advisory Board. The Network will develop a research agenda to guide research leading to at least 10 research projects over the project period that will engage at least 20 early investigators. Research will be disseminated broadly through a project website peer-review journals (at least 3 publications/year); presentations at professional conferences; research briefs and updates; as well as tools and resources such as guidelines screening tools and curricula and health literacy tools for AYAs and their families. Coordination:
The Steering Committee and National Advisory Board will include representatives of MCHB-funded LEAH Projects; MCH Research Networks; UC Berkeley's School of Public Health; the National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Capacity Building Program (NCBP); UCSF's Latinx Center of Excellence as well as youth family and community representatives. Evaluation:
We combine quantitative tracking and qualitative assessment to evaluate research projects experiences of mentored early investigators and impact of dissemination and translation activities.
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