Resources Supporting Healthy Youth Lifestyles

 Last updated: 3.28.22

Introduction:

Successful prevention requires addressing co-occurring health risks of youth and young adults, including substance use, chronic disease and mental illness risk behaviors. 

The most efficient strategy to do this is to integrate substance use prevention with healthy lifestyle behavior promotion.

That is why we provide prevention and health specialists and parents with evidence-informed resources aimed at enhancing youth and young adult wellness habits, including physical activity and sports, healthy nutrition, sleep, controlling stress, goal setting and spirituality, while preventing their substance use.

These resources are perfect for supporting the achievement of health behavior goals young people set during their participation in evidence-based Prevention Plus Wellness screening and brief interventions.

They are also ideal for prevention specialists interested in broadening their program outcomes by targeting other health risks common among young people. 

Prevention Plus Wellness resources address increasing and improving physical activity and sports participation, healthy nutrition, getting adequate sleep, controlling daily stress, setting and monitoring goals, spirituality and mental health, while understanding risks associated with substance use, including vaping e-cigarettes and using marijuana.

In addition to these national web-based resources, we highly recommend prevention and health organization compile a list of the local physical and virtual resources supporting each of the specific wellness-promoting behaviors and preventing specific substance use habits among young people. 

If you have a youth group, this would make a great assignment for them to learn leadership and service skills.   

Prevention Plus Wellness multiple health risk behavior resources for youth, teachers and parents include:

  • Youth health behavior content, videos, PowerPoint slides and other resources, and 
  • Evidence-informed health behavior content and tools for prevention professionals and parents

    Please consider this your list of Prevention Plus Wellness resources.  If you have another resource you’d like us to add to this list to share with others, please send us the link and we’ll review it for possible inclusion.  Also, if you’d like to see resources added addressing some other wellness-promoting or prevention behavior or topic, just let us know. 

    Contact us: info@preventionpluswellness.com or (904) 472-5022

    Thank you! 

     

    Youth Physical Activity Resources: 

    Youth Physical Activity Guidelines, CDC Healthy Schools. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2ndedition. 

    Description: The Guidelines issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/guidelines.htm

    Physical Activity Facts, CDC Healthy Schools.

    Description: Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing various health conditions.: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm

    Food & Fitness, TeensHealth from Nemours.

    Description: Ever wonder if some diets are really safe? Or how you can excel at sports? Get the lowdown on healthy eats, dieting, strength training, eating disorders, steroids, and more.: https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/food-fitness/?WT.ac=t-nav-food-fitness 

    Teacher/Parent Physical Activity Resources:

    WebMD, Parenting, Raising fit Kids: Healthy Nutrition, Exercise and Weight.

    Description: Parenting has been called the ultimate long-term investment. It's one of the most complex and challenging jobs you'll face in your lifetime -- and also the most rewarding.: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/raising-fit-kids/default.htm

    Physical Activity Resources-President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

    Description: There are many organizations that offer credible and practical resources on physical activity. Use these resources for ideas on how to incorporate activity into your daily life.: https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/resource-center/physical-activity-resources/index.html

    Youth Compendium of Physical Activities, NCCOR. 

    Description: The Youth Compendium of Physical Activities provides a list of 196 common activities in which youth participate and the estimated energy cost associated with each activity.: https://www.nccor.org/nccor-tools/youthcompendium/

    Physical Activity Tools and Resources, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. 

    Description: These tools and resources help families and communities better understand physical activity and how it relates to maintaining a healthy weight.: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/tools-resources/physical-activity.htm

    Physical Activity, CanFit.

    Description: Physical activity is a principle that all people need to adapt in their lifestyles! CANFIT believes that promoting physical activity to youth can be best achieved by.: “Providing options, keeping it simple, teaching it often and doing it right!”.http://canfit.org/our_work/physical_activity 

    Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents, American College of Sports Medicine.

    Description: Flyer discussing physical activity needs in children and adolescents, benefits, characteristics, promoting success, guidelines and special considerations.: https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/files-for-resource-library/physical-activity-in-children-and-adolescents.pdf?sfvrsn=be7978a7_2

     

    Youth Nutrition Resources:

    Eat Right. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Teens.

    Description: Articles, tips, videos and tools you can use!: https://www.eatright.org/for-kids/for-teen

    ChooseMyPlate.gov, Teens.

    Description: Young people experience many changes during their tween and teen years. Building healthy food and physical activity habits will help them now and as they enter adulthood. The following resources, tips, and ideas can help them take charge and learn to make their own choices.: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/teens

    Weight Management, Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

    Description: This site will help you learn how your body uses the food and drinks you consume and how being active may help your body "burn" calories, how to choose healthy foods and drinks, how to get moving and stay active, how getting enough sleep is important to staying healthy, how to ease into healthy habits and keep them up, and how to plan healthy meals and physical activities that fit your lifestyle.: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/take-charge-health-guide-teenagers

    Teacher/Parent Nutrition Resources:

    Nutrition Resources-President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

    Description: There are many organizations that offer credible and practical resources on nutrition. Use these resources for additional information on how to easily incorporate healthy eating into your life.: https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/resource-center/nutrition-resources/index.html

    Nutrition, HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics.

    Description: One of the first ways teenagers assert their independence is by making their own eating choices. So, it may not come as a surprise that good eating habits are often a problem for teenagers. One way to make sure your teen is consuming a nourishing diet is to have family meals together.: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/nutrition/Pages/default.aspx

    Teen Nutrition, US Department of Agriculture.

    Description: Healthy eating tools, guidelines and content for adolescents: https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/teen-nutrition

    We Can!: Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

    Description: Share these resources with your children to help them learn about eating right, being active, and reducing screen time to stay at a healthy weight.: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/tools-resources/child-teen-resources.htm

    Healthy Eating During Adolescence, Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine.

    Description: Eating healthy is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and is something that should be taught at a young age. The following are some general guidelines for helping your adolescent eat healthy.: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/healthy-eating-during-adolescence

     

    Youth Sleep Resources:

    Healthy Sleeping, Toolbox, TeenMentalHealth.org.

    Description: Sleep is essential for life and getting the proper amount of sleep helps us cope better with whatever life brings our way. This resource will help you develop better sleeping habits.: http://teenmentalhealth.org/product/healthy-sleeping/

    Healthy Sleep in Teens, Patient Education, American Thoracic Society.

    Description: This pdf document discusses key health issues related to youth sleep, how to improve teen sleep and provide specific action steps.: https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/healthy-sleep-in-teens.pdf

    Guide to Sleep for College Students & Older Teens: Expert Advice on How to Get a Good Night’s Rest, AffordableCollegesOnline.org.

    Description:  Learn why catching enough Z’s can help you earn more A’s, and get strategies to create and maintain a healthy balance between life, school and sleep.: https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/guide-to-sleeping-for-college-students-and-teens/

     

    Teacher/Parent Sleep Resources:

    10 Proven Tips to Make Your Sleep Deprived Teen Sleep Better, AAST.

    Description: Article about how to prevent teens from being sleep deprived and sleep better.: https://www.aastweb.org/blog/10-proven-tips-to-get-your-sleep-deprived-teen-sleep-better

    How to Help Teenagers Get More Sleep, Child Mind Institute.

    Description: Advice from health specialists on how to combat sleep deprivation among middle and high school aged adolescents.: https://childmind.org/article/help-teenagers-get-sleep/

    Teens, Young Adults & Sleep, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

    Description: A guide for parents and teens about the unique sleep requirements of teenagers.: http://school.sleepeducation.com/resources/lessons/teensdrowsydriving/PBrochures_TeensYngAdltsSleep.pdf

    Adolescent Sleep Needs and Patterns: Research Report and Resource Guide, National Sleep Foundation.

    Description: The National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) Sleep and Teens Task Force developed this publication to summarize existing research about sleep-related issues affecting adolescents. We hope that this report will serve as a valuable and practical resource for parents, educators, community leaders, adolescents and others in their efforts to make informed decisions regarding health, safety and sleep-related issues within their communities.: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/sleep_and_teens_report1.pdf

    Sleep Tips for Teenagers, Sleep and Tiredness, National Health Service (England).

    Description: Suggestions on how to make sure your teen is getting enough sleep to stay health and do well at school.: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/sleep-tips-for-teenagers/

     

    Youth Stress Control Resources:

    For Teens: Creating Your Personal Stress Management Plan, HealthyChildren.org.

    Description: Here is a 10-point plan to help you manage stress. All of these ideas can lower stress without doing any harm. None are quick fixes, but they will lead you toward a healthy and successful life. The plan is divided into 4 parts.: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-Resilience/Pages/For-Teens-Creating-Your-Personal-Stress-Management-Plan.aspx

    Five Tips to Help Manage Stress, American Psychological Association.

    Description: Here are five healthy techniques that psychological research has shown to help reduce stress in the short- and long-term.: https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/manage-stress

    35 Awesome Stress Management Resources, OnlyHealthy.com.

    Description: There is a growing number of great resources out there to help us manage our stress. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best ones on the web, from comprehensive university portals to interactive guides that assess your personal stress level and provide specific feedback and advice.: http://www.onlyhealthy.com/35-awesome-stress-management-resources/

    Top 10 Stress Management Techniques for Students, VeryWellMind.com.

    Description: We’ve compiled the following list of stress relievers that are most appropriate for students: relatively easy, quick, and relevant to a student’s life and types of stress. They’ll help you to function at your best, and enjoy the journey as you continue to develop your skills and abilities.: https://www.verywellmind.com/top-school-stress-relievers-for-students-3145179

     

    Teacher/Parent Stress Control Resources:

    Stress Management and Teens, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

    Description: This article discusses sources of stress for teens, how parents can help and how teens can reduce stress using certain behaviors and techniques.: https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Helping-Teenagers-With-Stress-066.aspx

    Change to Chill, Resources.

    Description: Resources to teach your teen how to overcome life’s pressures at home, at school and in their social life: https://www.changetochill.org/resources/

    Stress in School: A Parent, Teacher & Student Guide to Symptoms Solutions, Community for Accredited Online Schools.

    Description: This guide explains the symptoms of stress in students from elementary school through college and provides strategies teachers and parents can use to help.: https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/student-stress/

    Coping with Stress, Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Description: Discusses common reactions to stressful events, healthy ways to cope with stress, and tips for parents, youth and school personnel for coping with stress.: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/copingwith-stresstips.html

     

    Youth Goal Setting Resources:

    Setting Goals for Wellness, HealthAdvocate.

    Description: Breaking down your goals into a manageable wellness plan can be the difference between aspirations and realization.  Fine out how:  http://www.healthadvocate.com/_mobile/downloads/communications-pdfs/gateway_2731/bg_w_f_Setting%20Goals%20for%20Wellness-2731.pdf

    Your Guide to Setting Healthy Living Goals, UnlockFood.Ca.

    Description: Do you want to eat healthier, get active or just feel your best? The secret to success is to break down your healthy living goals into mini goals that are easy to manage. Start with one small, clear goal that is right for you.: https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Menu-Planning/Your-Guide-to-Setting-Healthy-Living-Goals

    Goal Setting, Students, National Junior Honor Society, National Association of Secondary School Principals.

    Description: Need help getting direction in your life? Goal setting is key. Use the visual guide, video, and resources below to help plan for your future.: https://www.njhs.us/students/futuready/goal-setting/

     

    Teacher/Parent Goal Setting Resources:

    How to Help a Teen Set and Reach Goals: A Goal-Setting Worksheet Exercise, VeryWellFamily.com.

    Description: Describes how parents (and teachers) can encourage teens to reach a goal, with steps for creating a goal-setting worksheet for your teen.: https://www.verywellfamily.com/printable-goals-setting-worksheet-for-teens-2608797

    Goal Setting for Students, Kids & Teens, Including Worksheets & Templates, PositivePsychologyProgram.com.

    Description:  Learn about why goal setting is a great addition to the curriculum from elementary school all the way up to college, and how it can best be incorporated.: https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/goal-setting-students-kids/

    Goal Setting Activities for Teenagers, LiveStrong.com.

    Description: Presents specific activities that help pinpoint your adolescent's attention on setting goals. Exercises can be a positive way to draw you and your teenager closer and help bring his future into sharper focus.: https://www.livestrong.com/article/30488-goal-setting-activities-teenagers/

    7 Best Apps for Student Goal Setting, EmergingEdTech.com.

    Description: We all know it’s easy to lose focus if you don’t have something to keep you on track. That’s where this post comes in. Here are just seven of the best apps that are out there on the market addressing student goal setting.: https://www.emergingedtech.com/2017/11/best-apps-for-student-goal-setting/ 

     

    Youth Spiritual Resources:

    Life Teen Blog, LifeTeen.com.

    Description: Designed to strengthen teen Catholic identity while rooting them firmly in Christ and in His Church.: https://lifeteen.com/blog/tag/spiritual-warfare/

     

    Teacher/Parent Spiritual Resources:

    10 Simple Spiritual Practice Ideas for Children & Youth, Discipleship Ministries.

    Description: This document describes a list of 10 top spiritual practices for young people.: https://gbod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/legacy/kintera-files/about-gbod/UR_10SimpleSpiritualPractices.pdf

    Best Practices in Adolescent Faith Formation, LongLifeFaith Associates.

    Description: This essay describes best practices for adolescent faith formation drawn primarily from three recent research studies on youth ministry and adolescent faith formation.: http://www.faithformationlearningexchange.net/uploads/5/2/4/6/5246709/best_practices_in_adolescent_faith_formation.pdf

    5 Things that will Help Your Teen’s Spiritual Life in College, LifeWay.com.

    Description: While you can’t write your teen’s faith story for them, you can encourage them in ways that will open the door for their faith to grow. Here are a few factors that commonly influence students to pursue a relationship with Christ after high school. : https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/how-can-i-prevent-my-teen-from-losing-faith-at-college

    The Most-Needed Teen Spiritual Discipline, InWord.org.

    Description: Sleep might be one of the most helpful spiritual disciplines we could teach our teens. I know, sleep as a spiritual discipline seems a stretch. But it fits right in there with Sabbath, rest, and taking care of the body temple. And it’s something teens are not getting much of these days.: https://www.inword.org/the-most-needed-teen-spiritual-discipline/

    Why Do Right?, Parenting, FocusontheFamily.com.

    Description: Kids may not initially comprehend the importance of doing what is right, so parents can help them better understand that moral choices are good for them.: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/spiritual-growth-for-kids/do-whats-right/why-do-right

     

    Youth Mental Health Resources

    Mental Health Resources for Adolescents and Young Adults, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

    Description: The Mental Health Resources for Adolescents and Young Adults are online resources aimed specifically at adolescents and young adults.  Health care providers and youth serving professionals can offer these additional resources or print the PDF one-page reference sheet to adolescents and young adults looking for additional information.: https://www.adolescenthealth.org/Resources/Clinical-Care-Resources/Mental-Health/Mental-Health-Resources-For-Adolesc.aspx

    Kids, Teens and Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness

    Description: One of NAMI’s main goals is to ensure that people get help early. Since mental health conditions typically begin during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood, we have compiled essential information and resources intended to help young people get the mental health support they need.: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults

    Mental Health Resources Center, The JED Foundation

    Description: The Jed Foundation’s Mental Health Resource Center provides essential information about common emotional health issues and shows teens and young adults how they can support one another, overcome challenges, and make a successful transition to adulthood.: https://jedfoundation.org/mental-health-resource-center/

     A GoodRX Guide to Mental Health for Teens, GoodRx Health

    Description: Let’s face it, there’s a lot going on inside our brains. And most of the time, it seems like we don’t have much control over how our thoughts and feelings come and go.: https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/mental-health/mental-health-guide-for-teens

     

    Teachers/Parents Youth Mental Health Resources

    Mental Health Resources for Adolescents and Young Adults, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

    Description: The Mental Health Resources for Adolescents and Young Adults are online resources aimed specifically at adolescents and young adults.  Health care providers and youth serving professionals can offer these additional resources or print the PDF one-page reference sheet to adolescents and young adults looking for additional information.: https://www.adolescenthealth.org/Resources/Clinical-Care-Resources/Mental-Health/Mental-Health-Resources-For-Adolesc.aspx

    Sharable Resources on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health

    Description: Help raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and early diagnosis and treatment by sharing information and materials based on the latest research.: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/get-involved/education-awareness/shareable-resources-on-child-and-adolescent-mental-health

    Kids, Teens and Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness

    Description: One of NAMI’s main goals is to ensure that people get help early. Since mental health conditions typically begin during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood, we have compiled essential information and resources intended to help young people get the mental health support they need.: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults

    Mental Health Literacy, TeenMentalHealth.org

    Description: Mental Health Literacy is the knowledge and understanding that helps us become ... someone in your life, our ToolBox is full of resources that can help.: https://mentalhealthliteracy.org/

    Mental Health, Youth.gov

    Description: It is normal for children and youth to experience various types of emotional distress as they develop and mature. For example, it is common for children to experience anxiety about school, or youth to experience short periods of depression that are transient in nature. When symptoms persist, it may be time to seek professional assistance.: https://youth.gov/youth-topics/youth-mental-health

    Youth Mental Health, Mental Health America

    Description: Just as you can help prevent a child from catching a cold or breaking a bone, you can help prevent a child from having mental health problems. We know what it takes to keep a child physically healthy—nutritious food, exercise, immunizations - but the basics for good mental health aren’t always as clear.: https://www.mhanational.org/childrens-mental-health

    Mental Health, Adolescent and School Health, CDC

    Description: Adolescence is a time for young people to have a healthy start in life. The number of adolescents reporting poor mental health is increasing. Building strong bonds and connecting to youth can protect their mental health. Schools and parents can create these protective relationships with students and help them grow into healthy adulthood.: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm

     

    Youth E-cigarette Resources:

    Electronic Cigarettes, Smoking & Tobacco Use, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Description: Provides facts about electronic cigarettes, their health effects and the risks of using e-cigarettes.: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm

    Electronic Cigarettes (E-cigarettes), DrugFacts, National Institute on Drug Abuse.

    Description: Describes what are e-cigarettes, how they work, how they affect the brain, their health effects, and can they help a person stop smoking.: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes

     

    Teacher/Parent E-cigarette Resources:

    Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults, Smoking & Tobacco Use, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Description: Webiste answering the questions: What are e-cigarettes?, How do they work?, What is JUUL?, Why is nicotine unsafe?, What are other risks of e-cigarettes?, What’s in an e-cigarette aerosol?, Can using e-cigarettes lead to regular cigarette use?, Aren’t e-cigarettes safer than regular cigarettes?, What can I do to prevent e-cigarette use among my youth?, and Where can I learn more?: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

    Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People, US Department of Health and Human Services.

    Description: Learn more about the risks of e-cigarettes pose to youth and young adults – and share the facts using these Surgeon General’s Report resources.: https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/resources.html

    Links to E-Cigarette Resources, Smoking Facts, American Lung Association.

    Description: Links to websites, reports educational materials, toolkits and more information on e-cigarettes.: https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/e-cigarette-resources.html

    Quitting e-cigarettes, Truth Initiative.

    Description: Resources to help teens and young adults quit vaping e-cigarettes.: http://www.truthinitiative.org/research-resources/quitting-smoking-vaping/quitting-e-cigarettes

    Lesson: E-Cigarettes: What you Need to Know, Scholastic.com.

    Description: This is a teacher’s guide with materials for presenting a lesson adaptable for students in grades 6th-12th.:  http://headsup.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-e-cigarettes-what-you-need-to-know 

     

    Youth Marijuana Resources:

    Marijuana: Facts for Teens, National Institute on Drug Abuse.

    Description: This website includes a letter to teens from the director of NIDA, some things to think about, FAQs about marijuana, and other useful resources.: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-facts-teens/letter-to-teens

    Marijuana, NIDA for Teens, DrugAbuse.gov.

    Description: This website provides a wide range of content answering common questions about marijuana, such as What happens to your body when you use marijuana? and Can you die if you use marijuana?: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana

     

    Teacher/Parent Marijuana Resources:

    Marijuana and Teens, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

    Description: This document describes ways people use marijuana, parents and prevention, effects of marijuana, and medical marijuana.: https://www.aacap.org/aacap/families_and_youth/facts_for_families/fff-guide/Marijuana-and-Teens-106.aspx

    About Youth Now, Prevent Coalition.

    Description: Resources for schools, parents, providers and youth on marijuana use, build resilience and prevent substance use.: https://www.youthnow.me/schools/

    Information on Marijuana, Substance Use and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics.

    Description: Resources on marijuana policy, education, and from the Division of State Government Affairs.: https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Substance-Use-and-Prevention/Pages/marijuana.aspx