Teen Health And Wellness Breaks New Ground

The right content in the right format

By Shonda Brisco -- School Library Journal, 3/1/2007

As teenagers struggle with issues of health, body image, and sexual identity, few librarians can offer students all the resources they need on every topic—when they need them. Even if a library has purchased these "hot topic" titles, they are often missing from the shelves when you need them. However, there is now one database that introduces a wealth of information specifically designed for teenagers that will find a permanent spot in many school and public library collections.

Grade 7–12+

Cost Annual subscriptions for schools begin at $595 per building. Pricing is based on enrollment. District or multiple building pricing is available. Annual subscriptions for public libraries begin at $595 per building. Pricing is based on cardholder numbers. System-wide pricing is available. All pricing is for unlimited, simultaneous access and includes remote access and ongoing content enhancements and updates.

The Big Picture As the inaugural database for Rosen Publishing Online, Teen Health and Wellness is the first database specifically designed for teenagers on issues relating to health, fitness, alcohol, drugs, mental health, family life, and much more. Drawing on Rosen's award-winning series such as "Coping," "Need to Know," "Drug Prevention Library," and others, Teen Health and Wellness provides young adults with authoritative content that is reviewed by experts in the areas of medicine, mental health, nutrition, guidance, and counseling.

The first in the field to provide a near-comprehensive online health resource specifically for teens, this database encapsulates the best information on a wide variety of topics. High-interest features, as well as up-to-date resources, will allow students to locate reliable information in a discrete manner while being offered additional resources for contacting health care professionals within their communities for additional information or support.

Teen Health and Wellness is ADA compliant and is aligned to national curriculum standards. With regularly updated home page features that relate to medical and social issues, database articles, resource sections with Web sites, organizations, and recommended reading, this database provides students with the resources to both investigate personal medical information and answer in-depth research questions for classroom assignments.

Look & Feel The clean, fresh look of Rosen's Teen Health and Wellness will immediately draw interest from teens. A banner at the top of the page announces "real life, real answers" which should attract user interest in the content. Students may immediately begin searching by selecting the "Browse by Subject" or the "Browse by A–Z" buttons or they can type their search topic in the Search box on the top of the page.

The home page is divided into several sections which focus on specific areas. "In the News" presents timely topics while in "Dr. Jan's Corner" Jan Hittelman, a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience, answers readers' e-mail questions. "Personal Story" provides compelling, teen-authored stories. "Cast Your Vote," a quick survey on topics such as dating, comes with a "Reality Check" section within the results that discusses issues relating to relationships and how to find solutions or help with tough situations. A "Did You Know?" section reveals a topic of interest such as bullying, and how students can find help with problems that they might feel they face alone.

On the left-hand side of the homepage, users will find a lengthy list of topics, including body basics; diseases; friendship and dating; grief and loss; nutrition; sexual health; and skills for school, work, and life. By selecting one of these topics, the user is immediately provided with a new search page, which allows them to narrow their subject choices to more specific content information.

How it Works Students accessing the database will find four different search options: Browse by Subject, Browse by A–Z, a Search box for typing a search term, and a list of Search Topics. Upon beginning a query, each option presents users with a new search page with topics to help narrow the search. When a specific topic is selected, the user is directed to the articles available on that topic.

One obvious selection that will be made by many teenagers is "Sexuality and Sex Health." Once selected, the user is taken to a page which includes topics such as: Abstinence, For Girls—Your Body, For Boys—Your Body, Pregnancy Prevention, STDs and Sexual Health, Sexual Identity, Sexual Violence, Teen Parenting, and Teen Pregnancy. Beneath each of these general topics are links to more specific information.

For example, under the topic Pregnancy Prevention, the subtopic Safe Sex has an article that describes "What is Safe Sex?" On the right-hand side of the article is an icon that reads "Reality Check" (with a sign similar to a yield sign); this is a "heart-to-heart" discussion of the subject for teens who might not otherwise realize the important issues relating to the topic. The second paragraph features another icon that also reads "Reality Check" (this time it's a light bulb); here readers are presented with factual information about the responsibility of sexual relationships, the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases, the rights of each individual within the relationship, and more.

Each article includes the author, the source from which the content has been taken, and the complete article citation in MLA format. Students may print or e-mail articles and a complete bibliography can be generated by selecting the "Cite This Article" button.

To the left of the article is a list of "Article Sections," which correspond to the subject, as well as hyperlinked "Resources," "Further Readings," and a "Glossary." Below the "Article Sections" is a box with "Related Articles." Finally, on the bottom of the article page is a white box which features a telephone "Hot Line" resource link; this directs students to a list of possible resources for additional information or instructs them on how to reach professionals for more in-depth assistance or help.

For Students and Teachers Rosen's Teen Health and Wellness is a breakthrough in database content; it is a long-awaited resource for up-to-date topics in health and fitness that are often missing in many libraries. Through the inclusion of general health topics, as well as sensitive and straightforward discussions of topics that may not be included in many school library collections, this database addresses the needs of many teenagers while providing sensible solutions, options, and resources.

Some may find that, on a few topics, the information is uncomfortably frank. However, this database gives students the opportunity to research health information through medically reviewed content and gain assistance from responsible adults.

Through the use of the database contents, teachers and librarians can collaborate to assist students in both educational research and personal health issues, while providing reliable information that can also be shared with parents, counselors, or personal health care professionals.

Report Card A ground-breaking database that is the first to completely focus on the medical health and emotional needs of teenagers, Rosen's Teen Health and Wellness database receives an A+. Even while the content continues to grow (by the end of this month it will include an Educator Resources section and national level curriculum correlations for middle and high schools in all 50 states), this database is the front-runner in health information for teenagers and a definite must-have for all high school and public libraries.