“Great transitions, preparing adolescents for a new century”: A commentary on the health component of the concluding report of the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development

Abstract

Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic foundation created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In June 1986 it established the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development to place the challenges of the adolescent years higher on the nations agenda. An operating program of the foundation the Council elected to build on the work of many organizations and individuals to stimulate sustained public attention to the risks and opportunities of the adolescent years and generate public and private support for measures that would facilitate the critical transition to adulthood. Composed of national leaders in education law science health religion business the media youth-serving agencies and government the Council worked within the best tradition of multidisciplinary and interprofessional cooperation. Through task forces and working groups meetings and seminars commissioned reports sponsored studies and the support for publication of a half-dozen major books as well as other activities the Council sought to identify authoritative information about the nature and scope of adolescent problems. It stimulated public discussion that resulted in well-informed action to foster constructive roles for families schools health agencies community organizations and the media in developing competent healthy adolescents. (excerpt)