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Teen Health Mississippi

Location: Mississippi 

Funders: Center for Disease Control, Mississippi First, Teen Health Mississippi

Background: Focus4Teens aims to reduce teen pregnancy in the Mississippi Delta by providing youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services. Focus4Teens promotes research-based health practices and supports sexual and reproductive health and rights of Mississippi teens to ensure access to high-quality education and healthcare services.

Research Highlights:

Read-Wahidi, M.R., Ragsdale, K., & Lower, K. (2019, May 10). Focus4Teens: YR3 Youth Focus Group & YR3 Youth Survey Results. Teen Health Mississippi and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 29 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., Lower, K., & Yarbrough, T. (2019, February 12). Focus4Teens: YR3 Parent/Caregiver Focus Group & YR3 Parent/Caregiver Survey Results. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Teen Health Mississippi, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 35 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., Yarbrough, T., & Lower, K. (2018, March 22). Focus4Teens YR2 Evaluation Results: Aaron E. Henry Health Center Staff. CDC, Teen Health Mississippi, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 40 pp.

Ragsdale, K., & Read-Wahidi, M.R. (2018, February 28). Focus4Teens Evaluation Results: YR1- YR3 Technical Brief. CDC, Teen Health Mississippi, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 1 pp.

Read-Wahidi, M.R., Ragsdale, K., Reid, A., & Swiderski, K. (2018, February 14). Focus4Teens YR2 Evaluation Results: Youth Serving Organizations. CDC, Teen Health Mississippi, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 40 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., & Reid, A. (2017, December). Focus4Teens YR1 Evaluation: Summary Report. CDC, Mississippi First, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 59 pp.

Beeson, V. (Winter, 2017). Improved care for teens: Reducing teen pregnancy in the Mississippi Delta [Online magazine article]. MAFES Discovers Magazine, Mississippi State University.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., Gochanour, A., & Reid, A. (2017, January). Focus4Teens YR1 Needs Assessment: YR1 Parent Interviews and Surveys. CDC, Mississippi First, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 44 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., & Reid, A. (2016, August). Focus4Teens YR1 Needs Assessment: YR1 Youth Serving Organization Interviews. CDC, Mississippi First, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 22 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., & Reid, A. (2016, June). Focus4Teens YR1 Needs Assessment Brief: June 2016. CDC, Mississippi First, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 6 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., & Reid, A. (2016, June). Focus4Teens YR1 Needs Assessment: YR1 Aaron E. Henry Quitman Clinic Interviews. CDC, Mississippi First, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 12 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., & Reid, A. (2016, June). Focus4Teens YR1 Needs Assessment: YR1 Aaron E. Henry Tunica Clinic Interviews. CDC, Mississippi First, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 34 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., & Reid, A. (2016, May). Focus4Teens YR1 Needs Assessment: YR1 Aaron E. Henry Clarkdale Clinic Interviews. CDC, Mississippi First, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 31 pp.

Ragsdale, K., Read-Wahidi, M.R., & Reid, A. (2016, May). Focus4Teens Quarterly Report: YR1 Youth Focus Groups. CDC, Mississippi First, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. 33 pp.

Elliot, S. (2015, June 15). ‘Just in time’ tips that help bring out the best in America’s parents [Web log post]. United States Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).

deShazo, R., Rodenmeyer, K., & Collier, T. (2014, October 28). Southern Remedy: Childhood Immunizations [Television special]. Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Premier date: October 28, 2014. [Note: Program received a 2015 Emmy award nomination from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS)].

Barbour, L. (2014, August 4). MSU authority on childhood obesity to speak at SEC Symposium [Web log post]. Mississippi State University Office of Public Affairs.

Invited Speaker, FactNotFiction’s (re)design and launch: Enhancing Mississippi teen’s sexual and reproductive health literacy through eHealth. Mississippi Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Jackson, MS, October 29, 2015.

Invited Speaker, FactNotFiction’s (re)design and launch: Using social media to enhance teen’s access to sexual and reproductive health education. 2015 National Conference on Health Communications, Marketing & Media. Atlanta, GA, August 11- 12, 2015.

Invited Speaker, Interactive health communication targeting elementary students in Mississippi: Evaluating the effect of the HealthWorks! Be a Food Groupie program on children’s health literacy. 2014 National Conference on Health Communications, Marketing & Media. Atlanta, GA, August 19-21, 2014.

CONTACT US

Mississippi State University

Social Science Research Center

1 Research Blvd #102A

Starkville, MS 39759

Email: genderimpactslab@ssrc.msstate.edu