Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§285g–8 Prospective Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health

Title 42 › Chapter 6A— PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter III— NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES › Part C— Specific Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes › Subpart 7— eunice kennedy shriver national institute of child health and human development › § 285g–8

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director of the Institute must start a national study by October 1, 1993 to learn about adolescents’ overall health and welfare. The study must follow a large group of young people over time. It must track health, how it changes, and which behaviors help or hurt health. It must also look at how local community factors affect health. The study must include girls and boys and different income, race, and ethnic groups so differences can be measured. The Secretary must make sure the part about adolescent girls is coordinated with the Women’s Health Initiative, including how the two studies are designed.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §285g–8

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than October 1, 1993, the Director of the Institute shall commence a study for the purpose of providing information on the general health and well-being of adolescents in the United States, including, with respect to such adolescents, information on—

(1)the behaviors that promote health and the behaviors that are detrimental to health; and

(2)the influence on health of factors particular to the communities in which the adolescents reside.

(b)(1)The study required in subsection (a) shall be a longitudinal study in which a substantial number of adolescents participate as subjects. With respect to the purpose described in such subsection, the study shall monitor the subjects throughout the period of the study to determine the health status of the subjects and any change in such status over time.

(2)The study required in subsection (a) shall be conducted with respect to the population of adolescents who are female, the population of adolescents who are male, various socioeconomic populations of adolescents, and various racial and ethnic populations of adolescents. The study shall be designed and conducted in a manner sufficient to provide for a valid analysis of whether there are significant differences among such populations in health status and whether and to what extent any such differences are due to factors particular to the populations involved.

(c)With respect to the national study of women being conducted by the Secretary and known as the Women’s Health Initiative, the Secretary shall ensure that such study is coordinated with the component of the study required in subsection (a) that concerns adolescent females, including coordination in the design of the 2 studies.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 285g–8

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60