Summer Institute focuses on communication, trust in digital age

The Summer Institute in Adolescent Health Partnering with Purpose: Enhancing Adolescent Communication and Trust in a Digital Age explored how to partner with adolescents on their health through strength-based communication and trust-centered approaches, June 28-30 in West St. Paul.

Megan Moreno, MD, MSEd, MPH, professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, presented Communicating about Social Media with Youth: Helping Youth Thrive in a Digital World on the first day of the institute. 

Moreno discussed the complicated links between technology and challenges facing youth, particularly rising rates of anxiety and depression. Noting factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, she challenged participants to think beyond the common narrative that technology like smartphones or social media are to blame for the problems adolescents face.

“Social media is a unique combination of benefits and risks for kids,” says Moreno. “Our job is to help them acknowledge the risks, protect against the risks, and optimize the benefits. We can’t do that when we’re telling them to touch grass.”

Drawing on her work as co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, Moreno shared the center’s 5Cs of media use framework as a resource for considering adolescent screen time with more nuance. Moreno emphasized the importance of communication with adolescents and discussed strategies for ongoing communication around social media and technology.

“That communication can include checking in on media experiences, showing curiosity, asking them what they’re doing and what they’ve seen lately, and really looking for ways to lift up that child’s strengths and recognizing great decisions and great behaviors,” says Moreno.

The first day of the institute also included the youth panel on Youth Perspectives on Trust and Partnerships, led by Rachel Warren and the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth. Elisia Cohen, PhD, MA, the John and Elizabeth Cowles Chair in Journalism and director of the University of Minnesota Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, presented Moving from Cynicism to Skepticism: Communicating Health with Youth. Jess McIntosh, MFA, a national communications strategist and national cable news political analyst, presented Fighting disinformation: Don’t Let the B@stards Get You Down.

The second day of the institute focused on the theme Navigating Digital Influence, Media and Misinformation. McIntosh presented Fighting Disinformation: Finding Common Ground. Warren and Abdulahi Dahir presented Every Step Matters: Black, Youth-Led Solutions for Mental Health and Online Safety. Warren and the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth led the youth panel Fact, Fiction, or “for you” Page? How Youth Navigate Digital Health. 

The final day of the Summer Institute centered around the theme Applying Skills & Building Supportive System. Janna Gewirtz O’Brien, MD, MPH, FAAP, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, presented Communicating with Adolescents & Families: Strategies for Building Trust & Bolstering Resilience. Providers And Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) and Danielle Kozel led the youth panel Youth Insights on Navigating Digital Works. Erica Koepsel, MA, director of youth engagement at PATCH, presented Cultivating Trusted Messengers in Youth Health Spaces. Stevie Chancellor, PhD, McKnight Land Grant Assistant Professor in Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Minnesota, presented Opening the Black Box: Designing Safer Social Media Algorithms & Chatbots. 

In addition to the School of Nursing Center for Adolescent Nursing, the Summer Institute was sponsored by School of Public Health Center for Leadership Education in Maternal & Child Public Health, Minnesota Department of Health Adolescent and School Health Unit, Familia Solutions, Anoka County Public Health & Environmental Services Health Promotion & Planning, Medical School Leadership Education in Adolescent Health, and the Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health Department.