An Innovative Online Approach to Improving Teen Access to Sexual Health Services, Education, and Community Resources

Full Description: Rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth in Tampa, FL called for an innovative and collaborative approach to improving linkages to sexual health services, education and community resources. A unique multi-sector partnership formed between a university (University of South Florida), clinic (Ybor Youth Clinic), school district (Hillsborough County Public Schools), and community-based organization (Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County) that led to the development of the community’s first centralized, online resource directory and referral database (www.TeenConnectTampaBay.org) focused on improving teen access to sexual health services (SHS) and addressing gaps in the availability of existing youth-friendly resources.

The website catalogues SHS and community resources in Hillsborough County and provides comprehensive sexual health education. It features a searchable directory with sexual health providers that are committed to participating in trainings to increase their capacity to meet the needs of teens. In addition, a community navigator was hired to support youth in connecting with SHS and additional resources identified as their highest needs, including mental health services, housing, food assistance, employment, and health insurance.

Continuous quality improvement cycles included a secret shopper model and youth-led health center assessments to identify gaps in existing SHS, multiple focus groups and surveys with teens to refine strategies, and formation of a youth advisory board to continuously guide online health communications and digital marketing strategies.

The resulting resource directory, Teen Connect Tampa Bay, leverages technology to create an accessible platform for youth to learn about evidence-based, inclusive and comprehensive sexual health resources and serves as an effective supplement to the school district’s newly implemented sexual health curriculum. Since launching in August 2019, the website has engaged 10,238 users and received 23,016 page views. The program has established formal partnerships with 24 community organizations, trained more than 200 providers and parents, and provided personalized navigation services to 442 youth in Hillsborough County.

This case study underscores the value of interprofessional collaboration through highlighting the results of bringing together adolescent medicine physicians, infectious disease specialists, public health professionals, and health educators to improve teen access to SHS. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of multi-sector partnerships in communities to improve linkages to care and strengthen supports to better address the social determinants of health among youth.

Furthermore, it aligns with the conference theme by identifying an innovative online approach and youth-led marketing strategy that maternal and child health professionals can use to reach teens where they are with comprehensive sexual health education and resources.

Abbreviated Description: Rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth in Tampa, FL called for an innovative and collaborative approach to improving linkages to sexual health services, education and community resources. A unique multi-sector partnership formed between a university, clinic, school district, and community-based organization that led to the development of the community’s first online resource directory and referral database for teens (www.TeenConnectTampaBay.org). Teen Connect Tampa Bay provides a model for leveraging technology to create an accessible platform for youth to learn about evidence-based, inclusive and comprehensive sexual health resources, and offers an effective supplement to a newly implemented school-based sexual health education program.