Teen-friendly health service providers are the foundation of the URhealthstyle website and campaign. Below is more information for and about providers.
Campaign background
The URhealthstyle campaign is a project of The Medical Foundation (TMF) and is jointly funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Division of STD Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Education under a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC). The goal of the campaign is to increase teen awareness, access, and trust in adolescent-friendly health services, including sexual health services. Building relationships with health providers helps to ensure that teens access services when they are in particular need, as well as fosters an environment where sexual health and other sensitive issues can be addressed. Many teens express concern about issues such as confidentiality, cost, and lack of knowledge about where to go, making it difficult for them to access services.
Youth have been instrumental in the creation of the campaign, providing feedback throughout the development process. Focus groups and interviews with providers and youth were conducted in Spring 2006 and informed development of the website and campaign materials. The website and promotional materials were also pre-tested with teens before the campaign launched. In addition, The Medical Foundation worked with a youth arts agency, Artists for Humanity, on campaign design. Youth were also included in outreach and marketing initiatives.
The website and "virtual network" of teen-friendly health care providers form the basis of the campaign. Launched in May 2007, the website is being marketed to youth through print and collateral materials, transit advertising, and word-of-mouth marketing. Teams of youths and young adults in selected urban areas spread the word about these teen-friendly health services by networking with youth and adults who work with youth, and by distributing promotional materials. Posters and promotional cards were distributed to all network agencies free of charge.
How to add or edit your agency's information
Agencies offering health services specific to adolescents and receiving some level of funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) are invited to participate in the URhealthstyle initiative. If you are not currently a participating provider but would like to be, email teencampaign@tmfnet.org to request registration information.
Dependant on funding, all participating providers will receive an annual update request to ensure accuracy of program information. In addition, your agency profile can be updated at any time. To update your agency's profile, email teencampaign@tmfnet.org.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the campaign, please email teencampaign@tmfnet.org.
