Emerging, Hot Topic: The Promise of Adolescence

PRESENTATION TYPE: Roundtable Discussion

CATEGORY/THEME: Research, Policy, and Practice

ABSTRACT BODY: This Roundtable Discussion session will bring together experts from the fields of neurobiology, adolescent developmental psychology, juvenile justice, child welfare, education, and health policy for a cross-disciplinary discussion of the science of adolescence and its applications, as presented in a forthcoming report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). In 2017, the NASEM formed an ad hoc committee to examine the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development, health, well-being, resilience, and agency including the science of positive youth development. The committee was charged with making evidence-based recommendations for key stakeholders, including youth-serving organizations; federal, state, and local policymakers; the research community; and adolescents themselves. In this Roundtable, session members of the study committee will discuss the findings and recommendations from the forthcoming NASEM report (anticipated publication April 2019) and invite dialogue related to prevention science implications from the audience. This SPR conference is well-timed with the release of the report, and would provide an excellent opportunity to share the key recommendations and engage the prevention science community in discussions about research, intervention, implementation, and, and policy implications. Discussants will address several questions answered in the report, including: What makes adolescence a unique period of opportunity for positive developmental trajectories? Can emerging neuroscience research illuminate ways to promote adolescent wellbeing, resilience, and development within institutions and systems? What can be done so that systems address structural barriers and inequalities in opportunity and access? How should the field of prevention science apply these findings and recommendations?