Understanding Young Adults

Young Adulthood, ages 18-24, is a developmental stage of late adolescence when young people are transitioning out of child/adolescent focused systems and into adult focused systems.  This population is rather invisible in public health and maternal and child health contexts, and it's easy to overlook them as a distinct population with unique needs.

SAHRC provides tailored resources and learning opportunities to help state public health professionals understand developmental stages of adolescence, and why young adults are a unique population with unique needs.  For more information on the below resources or tailored opportunities and resources for state adolescent health programs on young adult health and development, please contact SAHRC staff.

Late Adolescence/Young Adult Fact Sheet
English Spanish

Brief and concise research syntheses on the developmental stage tasks of late adolescence (ages 18-24).  Spanish adaptations available thanks to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment’s Title V/Maternal and Child Health Program.

Young Adults & MCH - SAHRC YouTube Series

Young Adults and MCH 

Young Adult Development and the role of MCH programs (14:10 min)

10 Things MCH Should Know About Young Adults  

Tips for understanding and working with young adults (18:49 min)

Young Adult Health: What Makes Them Unique (2020)

Three part series exploring why young adults are unique and what public health can do to support their health and health care needs, with a specific focus on: young adult mental health and suicide, and young adult males.