Why a Partnership for Male Youth?
After age 15, male adolescents' use of primary care services declines, while female adolescents' use increases. The increase for females is primarily due to an increase in use of OB/GYN services. On the whole, with the exception of episodic school exams, sports physicals and visits to the ER, once adolescent and young adult (AYA) males leave the pediatrician’s office they are left outside of our health care system.
Yet, according to the most recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adolescent and young adult (AYA) males, or those between the ages of 10 and 25, are at higher risk than their female contemporaries for:
It’s not surprising, therefore, that males do not become reunited with our health care system until they suffer from an acute or chronic illness later in life. Ironically, some of those illnesses are caused by a lack of preventive care in the intervening years.
The mission of the Partnership for Male Youth is to identify and address the unique and unmet needs of adolescent and young adult males ages 10 through 24 in order to optimize their health and ensure that they thrive.
In 2011 a number of nationally renowned health experts began to discuss this issue seriously with an eye toward developing solutions. Coming from a variety of health care specialties and disciplines, these individuals had written about or conducted research relating to AYA male health.
Led by this small group, over a two year period beginning in 2011, an interview-based needs assessment process was undertaken. The findings of that assessment were strong and unequivocal: AYA male health care needs to, and can be improved, and leadership needs to emerge to make that happen.
Based on these findings, in late 2013 the Partnership for Male Youth was founded, with the sole mission of advancing the health and well-being of AYA males. Today it is an independent Washington, DC-based IRS Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It has an extensive communications network and social media presence and is becoming known as the national leader on AYA male health issues.
Today the Partnership for Male Youth is the only national organizations whose sole focus is on advancing the health and well being of AYA males. The work of the Partnership for Male Youth has a very specific focus on what it characterizes as the “Double U’s” – for the terms unique and unmet. Many other national organizations address adolescent health issues either in non-sex specific ways, or, if they do address adolescent health issues in a sex specific way, only in terms of females. What makes the work of the Partnership for Male Youth distinct from and of added value to these efforts is the fact that it focuses on the health care needs of AYA males that are both unique to their sex and unmet.
The Partnership’s mission is to work with and on behalf of adolescent and young adult males to optimize their health and ensure that they thrive.
The mission of the Partnership is accomplished through eight principle endeavors:
Yet, according to the most recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adolescent and young adult (AYA) males, or those between the ages of 10 and 25, are at higher risk than their female contemporaries for:
- Death by suicide
- ADHD diagnosis
- Substance abuse
- Homicide
- Risky behaviors
- Accidental injury
- Certain STIs
It’s not surprising, therefore, that males do not become reunited with our health care system until they suffer from an acute or chronic illness later in life. Ironically, some of those illnesses are caused by a lack of preventive care in the intervening years.
The mission of the Partnership for Male Youth is to identify and address the unique and unmet needs of adolescent and young adult males ages 10 through 24 in order to optimize their health and ensure that they thrive.
In 2011 a number of nationally renowned health experts began to discuss this issue seriously with an eye toward developing solutions. Coming from a variety of health care specialties and disciplines, these individuals had written about or conducted research relating to AYA male health.
Led by this small group, over a two year period beginning in 2011, an interview-based needs assessment process was undertaken. The findings of that assessment were strong and unequivocal: AYA male health care needs to, and can be improved, and leadership needs to emerge to make that happen.
Based on these findings, in late 2013 the Partnership for Male Youth was founded, with the sole mission of advancing the health and well-being of AYA males. Today it is an independent Washington, DC-based IRS Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It has an extensive communications network and social media presence and is becoming known as the national leader on AYA male health issues.
Today the Partnership for Male Youth is the only national organizations whose sole focus is on advancing the health and well being of AYA males. The work of the Partnership for Male Youth has a very specific focus on what it characterizes as the “Double U’s” – for the terms unique and unmet. Many other national organizations address adolescent health issues either in non-sex specific ways, or, if they do address adolescent health issues in a sex specific way, only in terms of females. What makes the work of the Partnership for Male Youth distinct from and of added value to these efforts is the fact that it focuses on the health care needs of AYA males that are both unique to their sex and unmet.
The Partnership’s mission is to work with and on behalf of adolescent and young adult males to optimize their health and ensure that they thrive.
The mission of the Partnership is accomplished through eight principle endeavors:
- Identifying and addressing the unmet health needs of AYA males through evidence-based approaches;
- Improving public awareness and advocacy for the health needs of AYA males;
- Building on promising and successful models to address the needs of AYA males;
- Engaging stakeholders and building partnerships in synergistic efforts to advance AYA male health;
- Developing resources for stakeholders and individuals working with AYA males;
- Engaging AYA males in advancing their own health and well being;
- Addressing the underlying social determinants of health for AYA males; and
- Promoting health equity for AYA males by building on their strengths.
1 Rand, CM, et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2007
2 Marcell AV, et al. JAH. 2002
3 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021
2 Marcell AV, et al. JAH. 2002
3 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021