Public Health On Call 949 - A Roadmap for Helping Adolescents Thrive
Sep 22, 2025
Lisa Lawson, President and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and a leading voice on adolescent development, shares insights from her book on the science of the adolescent brain. She tackles common misconceptions about teenagers, highlighting that their behavior is a normal part of development influenced by relationships and environment. Lawson offers practical strategies for supporting youth, such as opportunity-based probation and apprenticeships, and shares valuable advice for parents and educators to help adolescents thrive.
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Adolescence Is A Prolonged Brain Development
- Adolescence is a long brain-development phase ending near age 25 where executive functions finish developing.
- Misinterpreting normal adolescent behavior as defiance ignores how their judgment and emotion regulation are still maturing.
Environment Shapes Adolescent Outcomes
- Adolescence unfolds within environments of relationships, opportunities, and resources rather than in a vacuum.
- Society must build a strong bridge for youth rather than blame them for failing to cross it.
Provide Hands-On Learning And Guides
- Provide hands-on learning, apprenticeships, and practical experiences because adolescents learn by doing.
- Ensure caring adult guides and mentors are available since youth still listen to and need adults.
