Keep It Simple: A Lesson in Linking Teens to Health Care

Abstract

The Keep It Simple package, which includes a short animated film (available online for streaming or download), a lesson plan, and supporting materials, was designed to be used with adolescents ages 15–19 to empower them to seek sexual and reproductive health care, and emphasize the availability of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). The materials in the package can be used together to deliver a 45 minute educational session that provides information to teens about the sexual health services available to them at local health centers, their rights to obtain those services, and how they can link to high quality and adolescent friendly sexual health care. The animation can also be used as a standalone product. All components of the Keep It Simple package are available for free and are also offered in Spanish as No te compliques.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• birth control
• clinic linkages
• contraception
• health centers
• long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs)
• pregnancy prevention
• reproductive health care
• sex education
• sexual health care
• teen-friendly

View correction statement:

Corrigendum

Keep It Simple suggested citation:

• Avellino, L., & Eisler, A. (2013). Keep it simple: A lesson in linking teens to sexual health care. Atlanta, GA: CAI Global; Baltimore, MD: Healthy Teen Network.

No te compliques suggested citation:

• Avellino, L., & Eisler, A. (2013). No te compliques: Conectando a adolescentes con servicios de salud sexual. (G. Martínez-García, M. Garrido-Fishbein, Trans.) Baltimore, MD: Healthy Teen Network. (Original work published 2013.)

Acknowledgments

Healthy Teen Network and CAI Global wish to extend our appreciation to Dawn Middleton and Michelle Gerka of CAI and Mila Garrido-Fishbein and Genevieve Martinez-Garcia of Healthy Teen Network for their support in the conceptualization, development, and translation of this lesson and the accompanying animation. We offer special thanks to the DC Teen Advisory Group of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy as well as Get Loud! for their support in the production and review of the animation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention---Division of Reproductive Health for their support and review of these products.

Funding

This journal article was supported in part by Cooperative Agreement Number 5U58DP002943-05 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

Notes

1 Healthy Teen Network is a national membership organization focused on adolescent and young adult health and well-being, with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health.

2 CAI is a diverse, mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of health care and social services delivered to vulnerable populations worldwide.

3 Users may download and burn a copy of Keep It Simple or No te compliques by visiting the Vimeo link provided.

4 This template may be accessed with a free Prezi account and is entirely customizable.

5 This template may be accessed with a free Prezi account and is entirely customizable.