UVA-Led National Report Finds the Promise of Adolescence is Largely Untapped | UVA Today Archives

The Promise of Adolescence: National Report Findings

• Report Overview: A University of Virginia-led report, "The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth," published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (May 2019).
• Definition: The report defines adolescence as the period between ages 10 and 25.
• Key Scientific Findings:
  • Adolescence is a critical period of neurobiological development, second only to infancy in terms of brain activity and transformation.
  • The adolescent brain is highly plastic, fostering curiosity, learning, and creativity.
  • Brain evolution during this stage is designed to help individuals transition from parental protection to independent adulthood.
  • The brain possesses significant resilience, allowing for potential healing from childhood abuse or neglect.
• The Opportunity Gap: Millions of adolescents face "missed opportunities" due to structural inequities related to race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, LGBTQ status, and ability.
• Systemic Recommendations: The report calls for modernization and reform across four major sectors:
  • Education: Modernize secondary education to include non-academic skills (decision-making, adaptability), rectify resource disparities, and foster culturally sensitive environments.
  • Health: Improve access to comprehensive, integrated care, strengthen insurance coverage, and increase behavioral health services.
  • Child Welfare: Focus on family reunification, reduce racial/ethnic disparities, and provide developmentally informed services for those aging out of foster care.
  • Justice: Address persistent racial and ethnic disparities in legal decision-making and ensure policies prioritize the health and educational needs of youth in custody.
• Academic Integration: UVA faculty (Richard Bonnie and Joanna Lee Williams) utilized the report to create a novel interdisciplinary doctoral course, allowing students to provide critical feedback on the research.