Adolescent Health Related Sites and Resources

Looking for resources on adolescent health? Visit the website links for the organizations below:

  Informational Links

Texas Adolescent Health Resources

Important Phone Numbers

• 211 Texas or 877-541-7905 — Free and anonymous, available 24/7, 365 days/year. Get help finding resources in your community, help with food or housing, child care, crisis counseling, or substance abuse treatment.
• Alcohol Abuse Helpline 1-877-232-9895 — Trained specialists available 24/7 to connect callers to help. Find facts and information about alcohol abuse. Find more information at: Drug Abuse - Alcohol Abuse Hotlines Spanish - npin.cdc.gov/publications-language/spanish. Find Texas locations at: Drug Abuse - Texas.
• Covenant House Crisis Hotline 1-800-388-3888 — Available 24/7 for youth and families for free. Operators provide counseling and give local referrals throughout the U.S. Find more information at: Covent House website or visit the Covent House Texas website or call 713-523-2231.
• Texas Department of Family Protective Services — Hotline lists and information about reporting abuse or neglect, foster care services, childcare information.
• Texas Health & Human Services Commission Ombudsman — Helps people with managed care, understanding Medicaid coverage, educating on rights, helping people advocate for themselves, and resolving problems, including access to care. Call: 866-566-8989, 8 am-5 pm, Monday–Friday. For a hearing or speech disability, call the Relay Texas service at 7-1-1 or 800-735-2989. Online: Submit a question or complaint online.
• Texas Quitline 1-877-937-7848 — Free confidential counseling for service, support, and information. Visit: yesquit.org/.
• Texas Health Steps 1-877-847-8377 (1-877-THSTEPS) — A free service for names and locations of local doctors or dentists for free checkups. This is an automated voice system. Press “1” for information on medical/dental checkups; finding doctors, dentists and nurses; setting appointments; and transportation. Find more information at: hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip/medicaid-chip-members/texas-health-steps.  

Texas Youth Action Network: offers supports to help organizations build or expand Youth-Adult Partnerships. TYAN aims to empower youth and build programs and policies that are responsive to the needs of young people. 

• Connect with TYAN on social media. Get ideas and join the discussion on engaging youth by following TYAN’s social media:
  • Twitter: TYANetwork
  • Instagram: TYANetwork
  • Facebook: Texas Youth Action Network    

Texas Department of State Health Services:

• Adolescent Immunization Program – learn about college vaccine requirements and more.
• Public Health Region services – find a DSHS office in your area.
• HIV-STD Program – learn the basics as well as find a provider or reporting.
• School-Based Health – locate health clinics within or near select schools.

Texas Health Steps: Get free Continuing Education credits on-the-go with Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education! Courses are available 24/7 on a computer or mobile device and offer practical guidance to put into practice right away. Find all the free modules on the Texas Health Steps website. The courses listed below are modules that focus on issues specific to adolescents:

• Promoting Adolescent Health
• High-risk Behaviors in Young People
• Teen Consent and Confidentiality  
• Preconception Health: Screening and Intervention

Texas Workforce Commission’s Jobs Y’all: a website to help students explore careers and jobs in Texas.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission:

• Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment - a behavioral health evaluation that helps with service planning, facilitate quality improvement, and allow for outcomes monitoring.
• Child and Youth Assessment Services – for youth seeking mental health treatment services. Eligibility is determined once an assessment is completed.
• Youth Substance Use Program - covers both prevention and care for young people who have a substance use disorder.
• STAR Kids – a Medicaid healthcare plan for youth 20 years old or younger with special health care needs.
• Title V Maternal & Child Health Fee-for-Service - Preventive and primary health services for youth 21 and younger.
• Texas Youth Tobacco Awareness Program – Tobacco awareness classes for youth.  
• Healthy Texas Women – Family planning exams, pregnancy testing and counseling, sexually transmitted infection services, health screenings, and breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services:

• Transitional Living Services - helps foster care youth and young adults make the transition to adulthood. The program also helps identify long-term education, career, and life goals. 
• Prevention & Early Intervention Programs:
  • Community Youth Development – a prevention program in ZIP codes with high juvenile crime rates for youth ages six to 17 (with a focus on youth ages 10 through 17). Communities use mentoring, youth-employment programs, career preparation, and alternative recreational activities to prevent delinquency.
  • Services to At-Risk Youth – provides crisis intervention, short-term emergency shelter, individual and family counseling, youth and parent skills groups, and universal child abuse and neglect prevention activities in all counties in Texas.
  • Statewide Youth Services Network - provides community and evidence-based juvenile delinquency prevention programs available to youth ages six to 17 in each DFPS region.  

Healthy Futures of Texas – aims to reduce teen pregnancy through research, advocacy, collaboration, and training so that every Texas teen has access to the information and resources needed to prevent unintended pregnancy.

Texas Network of Youth Services – strengthens services and support for Texas youth and families to help them overcome challenges and achieve healthy development.

National Adolescent Health Resources

Important Phone Numbers

• Alcohol Addiction Center 1-866-278-8150 — A free resource of education and information on alcohol addiction. Find more at: alcoholaddictioncenter.org/.
• Boys Town National Hotline 1-800-448-3000 — Crisis and resource referrals for parents and teens. Specializing in family reunification of runaways and homeless adolescents ages 11-17. They provide counseling over the phone and online and are Bilingual. Text ‘TEEN’ to 839863. Find more at: yourlifeyourvoice.org/Pages/home.aspx.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) — Information on mental illness issues. Monday-Friday, 9 am–5 pm central time. Text ‘NAMI’ to 741-741 for a crisis text line. Find more at: nami.org/.
• National AIDS Hotline 1-800-342-AIDS (2437) — Information resources for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 24/7, free. Services available in English (1-800-342-2437), Spanish (1-800-344-7432), and to deaf populations (TTY service 1-800-243-7889). Find out about AIDS and HIV at: hiv.gov/.
• National Child Abuse Hotline1-800-4-A-Child (422-4453) — Serving the U.S. and Canada. Available 24/7 with professional crisis counselors who help in over 170 languages. Find crisis services, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. Confidential. Find more at: childhelp.org/childhelp-hotline/.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) — Trained advocates available 24/7, 365 days/year to talk confidentially about domestic violence, resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of a relationship. Find more at: thehotline.org/.
• National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) 1-800-931-2237 — Available Monday-Thursday from 8 am-8 pm, and Friday from 8 am-4 pm central time. Offers support, resources, and treatment options. Find more at: nationaleatingdisorders.org/.
• National Runaway Safe-line1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) — Free and confidential, anonymous crisis intervention & help 24/7. Find more at: 1800runaway.org/.
• National HIV/AIDS information 1-800-232-4636 — Free information on sexually transmitted infections from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Find more at: cdc.gov/sti/.
• National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 9-8-8 — Free, confidential support. Offers 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Call, text, or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free and confidential emotional support. If you are hard of hearing, you can chat with a Lifeline counselor 24/7 by online chat – Lifeline Chat: Lifeline (988lifeline.org) or, for TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 — A confidential, free, 24/7, 365 days/year, information service for issues on mental or substance use disorders. Offers referrals to local treatment, support groups, and community organizations. Order free publications and other information. Find more at: samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline.
• Teen Line 1-800-852-8336 — TEEN LINE for troubled teenagers. Offers help on a problem or just conversation with another teen who understands. Call, Text, or Email them. "Ask TEEN LINE" finds resources in their Youth Yellow Pages or join conversations with other teens on message boards. For parents, a website with resources, tips, and insights at: teenlineonline.org/. Or text ‘TEEN’ to 839863.
• Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 (press 1) — Caring, qualified responders in the Department of Veterans Affairs, many are Veterans themselves. veteranscrisisline.net/ or text 838255.

Related Sites:

• Act For Youth - connects research to practice in the areas of positive youth development and adolescent/young adult health.
• American Academy of Pediatrics – A professional organization that sponsors a Section on Adolescent Health (SOAH). SOAH provides a forum for pediatricians interested in the health care of adolescents and enables members to discuss and develop ideas and programs which will improve the health and care of young people.
• Bright Futures – An organization that provides resources to help teens understand their own health care needs. Bright Futures address issues that can help children of all ages lead healthy, happy lives. The resources are useful for youth looking for information on staying healthy. ​
• Centers for Adolescent Health & the Law – A national organization that works exclusively to promote the health of adolescents and their access to comprehensive health care. They are launching a 10-year initiative to address sexual exploitation and trafficking of adolescents and young adults.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – or CDC, through its Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), works to promote settings where youth can get a healthy start in reaching adulthood. DASH has data, fact sheets, and publications specific to adolescents.
• Family & Youth Services Bureau – offers programs to end youth homelessness, adolescent pregnancy, and domestic violence.
• HealthCare.gov – learn about health insurance and whether you qualify for any programs.
• Healthy Schools – Also from CDC, they provide research and resources showing the link between health and youth school success.
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - developed a powerful tool to help children regain control. Take It Down allows users to request removal of online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos for children under age 18.
• National Eating Disorders Association – is dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures, and access to quality care.
• National Adolescent Health Information Center – focuses on the intersection of public health, systems of care, and clinical practice. NAHIC supports state efforts to improve care for adolescents and young adults.  
• National Organizations for Youth Safety – is working toward the common goal of addressing health and safety issues that affect youth in the United States. They want to build partnerships that will save lives, prevent injuries, and promote safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth while encouraging youth empowerment and leadership.
• The National Survey of Children’s Health  – provides data on multiple, intersecting aspects of children’s lives—including physical and mental health, access to quality health care, and the child’s family, neighborhood, school, and social context.
• Office of Population Affairs (formerly the Office of Adolescent Health) – promotes health across the reproductive lifespan through innovative, evidence-based adolescent health and family planning programs, services, strategic partnerships, evaluation, and research.
• Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine – is a multidisciplinary group with an active international membership devoted to advancing the health and well-being of adolescents.
• StopBullying.gov – provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying. 
• Youth.gov - provides interactive tools and other resources to help youth-serving organizations and community partnerships plan, implement, and participate in effective programs for youth.

The Texas Department of State Health Services does not endorse external links to other websites or documents created by other agencies. These links and documents are informational and may not be accessible to persons with disabilities.