Healthy Teen Network believes that adolescent sexual and reproductive health is a social justice issue with public health impacts. These impacts are confounded by how and where youth live, learn, and play and require a holistic Youth 360⁰ approach to achieve equity.

We cannot expect to significantly impact health outcomes without considering the full range of factors—the social determinants of health—that make a critical difference.

Healthy Teen Network believes all adolescents and young adults—including young people who are pregnant or parenting—deserve respect, appreciation, and acceptance for their unique strengths, talents, and potential. Youth-centered strategies and approaches are critical to empower young people.

The social-ecological health promotion model provides the theoretical background to understand our Youth 360° frame for holistic health promotion.

Divided into 4 levels, or spheres, the social-ecological health promotion model maps the variety of complex, interrelated elements, or social determinants of health, that shape our long-term physical, mental, emotional, and social health and well-being. Each level—individual, relationship, community, and societal—provides a way of organizing the social determinants that influence health and behavior outcomes.

Social determinants of health are the elements in the environment in which youth live, learn, and play that shape their long-term physical, mental, emotional, and social health and well-being.

Every one of us is affected by factors, or social determinants of health, at an individual level, but also, through our relationships, in our communities, and in society as a whole.

Part of a Youth 360° approach is understanding the importance of meeting the unique needs of your priority population.

These factors, the social determinants of health—such as access to quality education and health services, socioeconomic status, or having life goals and aspirations—shape our long-term physical, mental, emotional, and social health and well-being.