We are pleased to announce that the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) has been selected to receive the 2017 Healthy Teen Network Youth 360° Innovation Award.

How and where youth live, learn, and play matters. We cannot significantly impact health outcomes—and disparities—for all young people without considering the full range of factors that make a critical difference. Healthy Teen Network developed Youth 360° to make it easier to talk about and understand the intersection of the social determinants of health and social-ecological theory, and how each of us is affected by factors at an individual level, but also through our relationships and communities, and in society as a whole.

With the Youth 360° Innovation Award, Healthy Teen Network recognizes emerging innovations and achievements in adolescent sexual and reproductive health promotion that integrate the social determinants of health. Innovation is a critical component of a comprehensive strategy to respond to the dynamic lives of adolescents and young adults. In 2016, Young Women United received the Youth 360° Innovation Award.

The Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy has been selected because of their commitment to using a holistic, Youth 360⁰ approach to working collaboratively for and with youth to achieve lifetime success. ACAP has embraced the idea that Youth 360° is more than just a messaging tool; it is a way to approach systems-based change to respond to the dynamic lives of young people.

The Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy has engaged multisectoral partners across the city to unite with the common goal of using an assets-based approach to youth development to achieve the city’s goal of preparing all young people to be healthy adults. Their work with young people, parents, the community, and policymakers demonstrates how to work at all levels to address the social determinants of health.

ACAP works collaboratively for and with youth to achieve lifetime success through active involvement and personal commitment. ACAP does this by:

• Creating and conducting public awareness campaigns encouraging parent-child communications, abstinence, and safer sex messages;
• Using innovative technology and creativity to reach out to and engage youth;
• Partnering with Alexandria youth, parents, agencies, and community-based organizations to provide opportunities and comprehensive prevention services for adolescents and their families;
• Providing resources, support and programs with and for adolescents, families, and residents of Alexandria; and
• Providing training and technical assistance on adolescent pregnancy and sexual health issues with and for youth, families, and professionals.

This kind of innovative Youth 360° holistic health promotion supports and empowers young people to lead healthy sexual and reproductive loves. . ACAP’s hard work and commitment to youth and health promotion is deserving of our appreciation and admiration, and we are honored for ACAP to accept this award.

Healthy Teen Network and our members will celebrate the efforts of ACAP by presenting this award on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, Social Norms and Culture: Honoring Experiences & Perspectives during our awards luncheon, at the Hilton Baltimore.