Adolescent Health in Texas

Welcome to Maternal & Child Health’s Adolescent Health website.

Texans can dial 2-1-1 (option 6) for information on COVID-19 and local community resources on health care, utilities, food, housing and more. Wait times are currently higher than normal. Visit Health and Human Services for More COVID-19 information. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in monitoring the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) that is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness worldwide. Visit our website to learn more

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/       

You may have heard about “social distancing”. This can be a hard concept for young adolescents to understand. “Social distancing” is a term applied to certain infection control actions that should slow down the spread of a highly contagious disease. Officials want people to reduce the amount of contact with others to reduce the chance of spreading the disease. 

Helpful tips:

Avoid close contact with others.

Whether you’re at work, at a store or anywhere else, practice social distancing. Keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others. Remember that some people without symptoms can be infected and spread the virus.

Wash your hands often.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Cover coughs and sneezes.

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterward.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

The virus may live on different surfaces for different lengths of time. Clean frequently touched surfaces.

When to stay home.

• Stay home if you have had known contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or you feel sick.
• Stay home if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 even if you don’t feel sick.   
  

Up-to-date information.

For timely and helpful information about COVID-19, please follow @TexasDSHS on social media. Refer family and friends to dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus. 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)  

For information and resources about COVID-19 and adolescent health, please visit the following links:

COVID-19 Information

• What to do if you’re sick
• Testing information
• Symptoms
• Prevention tips
• Tips to keep children healthy while school’s out
• Handwashing/hand sanitizer use at home and at play
• Preparing for possible illness at home
• COVID-19 information and referrals
• Texas Executive Orders and Public Health Disaster Declaration
• Statewide case counts
  

For more information about Maternal and Child Health or adolescent health in Texas, please contact us at:  

Texas Department of State Health Services
Maternal & Child Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
(512) 776-7373: Phone
(512) 458-7658: Fax
TitleV@dshs.texas.gov

External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These external links may not be accessible to persons with disabilities.