Children, Adolescents, & Teens
Did You Know? is a feature from the Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support to inform your prevention activities. We invite you to read, share, and take action!
View the Current Did You Know?
October 30, 2020
- CDC’s newly released Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2009–2019pdf icon[PDF – 30.5MB], provides an in-depth look at 10 years of trends in health behaviors and experiences among US high school students, including sexual behavior, high-risk substance use, mental health, experience of violence, and suicide.
- This report revealed concerning trends about the mental health of high school students—for example, more than 1 in 3 students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40% increase since 2009.
- To promote good adolescent mental health, public health agencies, schools, and communities can provide youth-friendly mental health services and build supportive environments that provide a sense of safety and connection for all students.
October 9, 2020
- The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated stressors can affect children’s development and well-being.
- CDC has funded Act Early COVID-19 Response Teamsexternal icon in 43 states and territories to support families and systems affected by COVID-19 to improve resiliency among children and families.
- You can contact your state’s or territory’s Act Early Ambassador to learn how you can collaborate with the Act Early COVID-19 Response Teams to support children and their families during the pandemic.
September 4, 2020
- CDC’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) provides a pre-COVID-19 snapshot of the health of nearly 14,000 American students; these results can serve as a baseline to understand the pandemic’s potential impact on student health behaviors and experiences.
- The 2019 YRBS resultspdf icon show that many student health behaviors were moving in the right direction before the pandemic, including not having sex, using illicit drugs, and consuming soda. However, behaviors related to experiences of violence, poor mental health, and unhealthy diet show more action is needed to help students achieve good physical and mental health.
- Health agencies, schools, and communities can use CDC’s YRBS data, programs, and resources to help adolescents avoid health risks and begin to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
May 15, 2020
- About 1 in 6 children have developmental delays or disabilities, and children from families with low incomes, like those served by WIC, are at even greater risk.
- Early intervention services for developmental delays and disabilities can change a child’s developmental path and improve their learning and health outcomes.
- The WIC Developmental Milestone Checklist Program Online Implementation Guide can help WIC staff engage parents in monitoring their children’s development, identify children with delays or disabilities, and make timely referrals to early intervention services.
April 17, 2020
- One in 54 children were identified with autism in 2016, based on data collected on 8-year-old children across 11 US communities.
- Early detection of autism is improving: the percentage of 4-year-old children with autism who received their first developmental evaluation by age 36 months increased from 74% in 2014 to 84% in 2016.
- Healthcare providers can implement CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. program to increase developmental screening and surveillance and help identify children with developmental disabilities earlier to allow for early intervention.
December 13, 2019
- Across US states, schools were more likely to teach students about suicide and violence prevention in 2018 than in 2008, according to CDC’s 2018 School Health Profiles.
- However, HIV prevention topics are losing ground in school health education: since 2008, the percentage of schools that taught HIV prevention topics fell from 93% to 87% across US states.
- States and communities can work with schools to implement and improve school-based health education programs that promote connectedness, support academic performance, and protect the health of youth.
November 8, 2019
- One in six adults has experienced four or more types of adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, such as violence in the home or community.
- Preventing ACEs could reduce up to 21 million cases of depression, 2.5 million cases of overweight/obesity, and 1.9 million cases of heart disease in adulthood—according to the latest Vital Signs report.
- States and communities can leverage the best available evidence to prevent ACEs before they occur and to lessen their effects by using CDC’s ACE Prevention Resourcepdf icon[PDF-3.6MB].
August 23, 2019
- Youth who feel engaged and supported at school and at home are less likely to experience negative health outcomes related to mental health, violence, sexual risks, and substance use later in life.
- CDC research found that students who felt more connected in their schools and to their families during adolescence experienced a 48% to 66% lower riskexternal icon of poor health outcomes in adulthood.
- Schools, families, and healthcare providers can take steps to promote connectedness among youth, leading to healthier adults.
July 12, 2019
- In 2018, there were 233 cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) across 41 states; AFM is a rare but serious condition that causes limb weakness and can progress rapidly, sometimes requiring urgent ventilator support.
- The average age of patients with AFM was 5 years, and most were otherwise healthy children—according to the latest Vital Signs report.
- Clinicians can help improve our understanding of AFM by recognizing the symptoms early, running appropriate tests, and rapidly reporting suspected cases to the local health department.
April 5, 2019
- Flu and other diseases can spread between animals and people in settings such as farms, pig showspdf icon[PDF-1.2MB], agricultural fairs, and petting zoos.
- Washing hands with soap and water after interacting with animals can help protect against germs that can lead to variant influenza and other zoonotic diseases.
- Public health and agricultural organizations can use Youth in Agriculture program resources such as CDC’s Junior Disease Detectives graphic novel to teach youth about zoonotic infections and how to prevent them.
February 15, 2019
- In 2018, 4.9 million middle- and high-school students used tobacco products in 2018—up from 3.6 million in 2017—according to the latest Vital Signs report.
- Use of any tobacco product—including e-cigarettes—by youth is unsafe, and nearly all tobacco product use begins in adolescence.
- Public health professionals can help implement population-based strategies to protect young people from the dangers of tobacco, including restricting youth access to tobacco products.
January 25, 2019
- Physically active children tend to have better grades, attention, attendance, and classroom behaviors.
- All children ages 6–17 should get 60 minutes or more pdf icon[PDF-13.5MB]external icon of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.
- Communities can increase students’ physical activity by making it safer and easier for students to walk or bike to school using active travel-to-school interventions featured in The Community Guideexternal icon and CDC’s Health Impact in 5 Years.
June 15, 2018
- Fewer US high school students are having sex and using certain illicit drugs, according to the nearly 15,000 students who participated in the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
- Youth who engage in sexual risk behaviors pdf icon[PDF-16.7MB] or high-risk substance use or who experience mental health problems, violence, or suicidal ideation, have a higher risk of illness, injury, and poor academic outcomes.
- Schools can help reduce youth’s risk by supporting safe environments and connectedness for all students, providing health education, building skills for healthy decision-making, and linking students to health services.
April 27, 2018
- More than 59% of adults in a 2010 survey reported experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) before age 18.
- ACEs are associated with many adverse health outcomesexternal icon along with unemployment, poverty, and decreased likelihood of completing high schoolexternal icon.
- Public health professionals can promote ACE prevention efforts pdf icon[PDF-3.9MB] that support safe, stable, nurturing environments pdf icon[PDF-5.5MB] for children and families at work, in communities, and at home.
April 20, 2018
- Through on-time immunization, we can protect infants and children from 14 vaccine- preventable diseases before age 2.
- While childhood immunization rates remain high, children in the US can and sometimes do get diseases that some parents might consider diseases of the past.
- Health professionals can help parents learn more about childhood immunization by using CDC-recommended resources for talking to parents about vaccines.
March 2, 2018
- After declining from 1990 to 2007, suicide rates among teens aged 15–19 have been on the rise, doubling among females and increasing 31% among males.
- Suicidal behavior is complex and associated with multiple risk and protective factors, many of which are common in youthexternal icon.
- Communities can help prevent suicide by using strategies based on best available evidence pdf icon[PDF-6MB], working with suicide prevention organizations, and promoting information about lifelinesexternal icon for people in distress.
January 26, 2018
- One in 6 children aged 3–17 years has a developmental disability pdf icon[PDF-8MB]—a condition that affects how a child plays, learns, speaks, acts, or moves.
- Regularly tracking developmental milestones can identify these disabilities early, when children can benefit most from early intervention.
- Healthcare providers can encourage parents to track developmental milestones using the Milestone Tracker app and other CDC materials.
September 15, 2017
- The academic performance of America’s youth is strongly connected to their health.
- US high school students who engage in substance use, risky sexual behaviors, violence, and suicidal behaviors are more likely to report lower grades at school.
- Public health departments can partner with education agencies and use CDC tools and resources to support student health.
August 11, 2017
- The number of motor vehicle crashes involving 17- and 18-year old drivers increased in 2014 and 2015, and crashes remained the leading cause of death for US teens.
- Eight danger zones—like driver inexperience and nighttime driving—contribute to teen crashes.
- The strategies in CDC’s Graduated Driver Licensing System Planning Guide can help states evaluate and improve their programs addressing these leading causes of teen driver crashes.
April 28, 2017
- About 1 in 7 US children aged 2–8 years has a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder, such as anxiety, learning problems, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
- Kids who have these disorders and live in rural areas face personal, financial, and neighborhood challenges more often than those who live in urban areas.
- Rural children and their parents might need additional support from states, healthcare systems, and primary care providers—here’s how to help them thrive.
April 21, 2017
- Vaccination of children born during 1994–2013 will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes.
- Following the recommended childhood immunization schedule protects babies and children by providing immunity early in life.
- Healthcare providers and public health professionals can educate patients about the importance of vaccination and staying on schedule using easy-to-read resources recommended by CDC.
January 27, 2017
- CDC’s newly released Winnable Battles final report shows meaningful improvements in key public health areas.
- Since 2009, rates of teen births and youth and adult smoking have declined significantly, and between 2008 and 2014, central line-associated bloodstream infections in acute care hospitals decreased by 50%.
- A color-coded dashboard shows where more work is needed, especially in obesity, foodborne illness, and motor vehicle injuries.
October 21, 2016
- Dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in the back teeth (molars), where most cavities occur.
- School-aged children without dental sealants have almost 3 times more cavities than those with sealants―according to the latest Vital Signs report.
- States can protect millions more children from cavities by starting or expanding dental sealant programs in schools.
September 9, 2016
- US lesbian, gay, and bisexual high school students experience substantially higher levels of bullying and other forms of violence than their peers pdf icon[PDF-74KB].
- Bullying can occur in person or online, resulting in physical, social, and emotional difficulties and academic problems.
- Schools, teachers, parents, and community members can use proven tools and resourcesexternal icon to recognize bullying and stop it.
May 6, 2016
- Only about 40%–50% of young children (ages 2–5 years) receive psychological services as part of their treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—according to the latest Vital Signs report.
- Behavior therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for young children with ADHD; it can work as well as medication and without the side effects.
- Healthcare providers should first refer parents pdf icon[PDF–634KB]external icon of young children with ADHD for training in behavior therapy before prescribing medication.
April 15, 2016
- Some vaccine-preventable diseases still affect children and adults in the United States; in fact, there were 667 cases of measles and 32,971 cases of whooping cough in 2014.
- Vaccines given by age 2 provide safe and proven protection against serious childhood diseases pdf icon[PDF-2.8MB]external icon.
- Healthcare professionals can talk with parents about vaccines and share resources to help them learn more about vaccines for their children.
February 12, 2016
- In 2013, among students who dated, 21% of girls and 10% of boys reported physical and/or sexual violence from a dating partner.
- Teen victims of dating violence are more likely to use tobacco, drugs, and alcohol and to have symptoms of depression.
- Local health departments, schools, and community partners can use the Dating Matters Capacity Assessment and Planning Tool (DM-CAPT) to start or improve comprehensive initiatives to prevent teen dating violence.
January 8, 2016
- More than 18 million US middle and high school youth were exposed to e-cigarette ads in 2014, according to the latest Vital Signs report.
- Exposure to e-cigarette advertisements might be contributing to increases in e-cigarette use among youth.
- States and communities can use proven approachesexternal icon to prevent youth from using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
Did You Know? information and web links are current as of their publication date. They may become outdated over time.
Email Updates
STLT Connection
What's New
STLT Collaboration Space
Field Notes
Contact CSTLTS
Page last reviewed: October 9, 2020
Content source: Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support