What is the Preteen Alliance?

The Preteen Alliance is a collaborative that promotes the positive emotional and behavioral health of preteens. Based in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the Alliance offers an opportunity for a regional, coordinated focus on the important -- but too often neglected -- age group of children ages 9-13.

Alliance members receive updates about news, research, events, and programs regarding preteens, and have opportunities to meet and exchange information with fellow members at periodic events, and through the Alliance website and newsletter.

The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health formed the Alliance in 2003, and the focus on preteen aligns with the foundation's grantmaking program, which supports local organizations that promote the positive development of preteens, ages 9-13.

Former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher launched the Alliance's public work at an event on June 12, 2003. For listings of preteen events in these two counties, visit kidscal.org.

Who Makes Up the Preteen Alliance?

The Alliance is a cross-county collaboration on preteen issues, and individuals from both Santa Clara County and San Mateo County are represented. Since its inception, the Alliance has grown to include parents, school officials, and professionals from various disciplines.

The group's steering committee includes members from both counties, representing a breadth of public and private agencies and groups, from legislative offices to children's health organizations, as shown below:

• Catholic Charities of San Jose
• Children's Health Council
• Kaiser Permanente, San Jose
• Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
• Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health
• San Mateo County Health Services Agency
• San Mateo County Human Services Agency
• San Mateo County Office of Education
• San Mateo County Mental Health Services
• Santa Clara County Public Health Department
• Santa Clara County Office of Education
• Stanford University Department of Pediatrics

What Does the Alliance Do?

The Alliance collects and disseminates information about preteens; develops policy, program and research recommendations; and serves as a network for individuals and organizations to connect, exchange information, and discuss key issues affecting preteens.

The Exchange of Information

The Alliance website, www.preteenalliance.org, was launched in January 2006 as a forum for members to meet, have discussions, and learn about research, news, events, and programs related to preteens. In addition, the Alliance distributes digests of recent news and research; a newsletter of local events, activities, and programs and holds periodic events, such as the Preteen Summit on Jan. 9, 2006.

Disseminating Research and Recommendations

Little is known about the status of preteen emotional health or how to promote it, and even less is known about this topic in regard to San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
The work of the Preteen Alliance has begun to fill knowledge gaps. This endeavor is supported by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, which recommended gathering and standardizing hard data about youth, particularly preteens and adolescents, in their 2004 publication, "Children's Health, the Nation’s Wealth: Assessing and Improving Child Health."

As its first major project, the Alliance published a report on the status of preteens, "A Portrait of Preteens in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties: What We Know about 9- to 13-Year-Olds" (PDF). The 60-page report, produced by the research firm Public/Private Ventures, was released in January 2006. The report summarizes available data specific to preteens in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, covering emotional health, academics, physical health, and behavioral health and safety. The report also identifies data gaps and offers research recommendations.

In addition, the Alliance commissioned a study, "School-Based Counseling Services for Preteens in San Mateo County" (PDF), which was released in January 2006. The study describes the role that school counselors and nurses play in supporting preteens; these professionals' views of the key issues facing local preteens; and recommendations to further promote preteen emotional and behavioral health.

See additional reports related to preteens: http://www.preteenalliance.org/news.html

Role of Individual Members

Individual members of the Alliance:

• Actively use www.preteenalliance.org;
• Review and consider acting on the recommendations in the reports, mentioned above;
• Tell others about the Alliance;
• Participate in Alliance events;
• Provide suggestions about the work of the Alliance using the "Feedback" link on the website; and
• Take part in promoting recognition of the importance of preteens as a distinct age group.

Why Focus on Preteen Emotional and Behavioral Health?

National and local awareness of the need for increased attention and information about the preteen population has been growing -- particularly about the issue of preadolescent emotional health.

Early adolescence represents a particularly important transition in the human lifespan, many researchers say. Preteen years are "unmatched in the juxtaposition of simultaneous changes -- cognitive, biological, social and emotional," according to Ruby Takanishi, an expert on child and adolescence development and president of the Foundation for Child Development.

Emotional health is a particularly critical issue during preteen years. Preteens constantly face choices and risks: smoking, alcohol, bullying, depression, eating disorders, drugs, gangs, family issues and many others. Emotional problems can hinder a child's ability to function at home, at school, and in the community, and can ultimately lead to academic failure, family conflict, substance abuse, violence, suicide, and other serious issues.

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Why Should I Join The Preteen Alliance?