Young Adults and Adolescents Steering Group (YAASG)

Organisations

Young People’s Health Special Interest Group

The Young People’s Health Special Interest Group (YPHSIG) aims to raise the profile of young people's health and promote the development of high-quality health services for young people in the UK. It is an association of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and membership is open to paediatricians and other
healthcare professionals working with young people.

The YPHSIG was formed in 2008 and has now established itself as a leading professional voice for young people’s health and adolescent medicine in the UK. It works in partnership with the RCPCH and other organisations including the RCP and other medical royal colleges, the Association for Young People’s Health, NHS England, Public Health England and the Department of Health to improve access to quality health services for young people. It also has a leading role in developing the paediatric medical workforce to ensure they can work effectively with young people and their families to improve the health of young people.

The YPHSIG promotes high-quality research into young people’s health and contributes to key health and social care policies that affect young people through advocacy. The YPHSIG is championing the meaningful and effective involvement of young people in their own healthcare and health services provided for them and YPHSIG members are leading the development of transition pathways for young people from paediatric to adult health services.

Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

The Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists promotes the mental wellbeing of young people and their families. The faculty contributes to, and draws from, an established knowledge base to inform practice.

The objectives of the faculty are to:

• promote the training of medical students, doctors in training, and substantively employed psychiatrists
• act as a forum for the exchange of experience and research
• promote the developmental perspective, and the importance of family functioning in mental health within the Royal College of Psychiatrists
• influence public policies in appropriate directions
• promote mental health awareness through working with the media and offering information directly to the public
• organise regular national conferences and local meetings to promote professional development, clinical education and peer networking opportunities.

Association for Young People’s Health

The Association for Young People’s Health (AYPH) is the UK’s leading independent voice for youth health. It works to improve the health and wellbeing of 10-24 year olds by:

• involving young people in our work and making sure their views are heard
• working with healthcare providers to improve services for young people
• improving access to information, resources and innovation
• promoting evidence-based practice and highlighting important data
• increasing communication between practitioners from different sectors.

Resources:

• Participation statement - good practice participation statement detailing what we believe need to be included in participation work to ensure that it is meaningful for both young people and adults.
• Which young people need extra help to reach good health? - infographic produced with support from NHS England, which highlights some groups of young people whose background and needs might not be obvious. This information can be used to improve practice around vulnerable and marginalised young people and to reduce health inequalities.