Academic Research

The Center for Adolescent Health's research is guided by our vision of healthy and productive lifestyles for Baltimore youth. 

Healthy lifestyles for youth mean lowering levels of risk-taking behavior and building new skills in terms of:

• Substance use and sexual behavior;
• Self-care competencies in terms of nutrition, physical activity and appropriate use of health services;
• Skills to get along with others, form and sustain committed relationships, care for dependent individuals, engage in civic life; and
• The capacity to engage in productive economic activity.  

This vision is holistic—it includes broad aspects of adolescent development and addresses the major priorities identified through discussions with our Community Advisory Board, as well as with other key informants. Furthermore, this vision takes into consideration the disparities in life chances that youth in our neighborhood and throughout Baltimore face compared to other youth within the state and nation.