Adolescent Health

Adolescent health is a core concern of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and adolescent health-related programs are located within several VDH Divisions. The programs focus on health promotion and disease prevention, disease treatment, and surveillance. Adolescent health promotion recommendations are based on Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents.

Adolescent health-related programs also are located within the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention, the Virginia Department of Social Services, and the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice.

Definition:
The definition of adolescence varies by program, funding source, and need. For example, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) define adolescence from age 10 to 24. The State Adolescent Health Coordinators Network (represented by the Adolescent Health Coordinator from each state and territory) follows the CDC definition for adolescence. The Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) defines adolescence from age 11 to age 21. The definition used by the Virginia Department of Health is the definition used in Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision and includes children from age 11 through age 21.

For a list of our programs, please go to our Services page.

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