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Thrivopolis game-board squares with maze-like pathways

Thrivopolis

A game and discussion where players navigate a social safety net in the not-so-distant future

In the wake of the Great Unraveling in the not-so-distant future, a brave few set out to construct a utopian refuge high in the treetops. Born was Thrivopolis, a verdant, gleaming city in the lush embrace of the trees – a true testament to the enduing spirit of humanity.  

As a dedicated youth-supporting professional, you are integral to this grand experiment. Your mission is to navigate a social safety net suspended in the canopy, gathering valuable resources to better the lives of those that you support.  

Along the way, you’ll soon discover the eerie echoes of the world that came before.  

 

Thrivopolis game-board squares with maze-like pathways and icons

In Thrivopolis, players navigate the city’s verdant pathways in search of valuable resources to help young people heal and thrive.

But time is of the essence and players must act fast! Event cards reveal changes in the social and political environment, shifting the Thrivopolis safety net and the very ground beneath!

In your not-so-distant future:

Ready-to-play and print-at-home Thrivopolis!

This fall

It’s playtime!

Youth-supporting professionals may join the fun at Thrivopolis events nationwide. Look for us at:

  • Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grantee Conference, July 15–17, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Rise, Reimagine, and Reinvent,” the Healthy Teen Network Annual National Conference, Novmeber 18–20, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona
Thrivopolis game-board squares with maze-like pathways and icons

Expert guidance for an unforgettable Thrivopolis experience:

Beneath the canopy: The science of Thrivopolis

Resources

At-home STI testing

Centers for Disease Control (2021, July 22). Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/adolescents.htm

Centers for Disease Control. (2024, April 9).  Getting Tested for STIs. https://www.cdc.gov/sti/testing/index.html#:~:text=All%20sexually%20active%20people%20ages,gonorrhea%20and%20chlamydia%20every%20year.

Shih, S., Graseck, A., Secura, G., Peipert, J. (2011) Screening for sexually transmitted infections at home or in the clinic? Current Opinion in Infectious Disease, 24(1):78-84. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0b013e32834204a8.

Melendez, J.H., Hamill, M.M., Armington, G.S., Gaydos, C.A., Manabe, Y.C. (2021). Home-Based Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections: Leveraging Online Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sexually Transmitted Diseases., 48(1), e8-e10. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001309.

Reitmeijer, C. (2019). Improving care for sexually transmitted infections. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 22(6), e25349. doi: 10.1002/jia2.25349


Checking Account

Money Matters: Make it Count. https://www.bgca.org/programs/education/money-matters/ – Teaches teens how to set goals, budget, save and invest. In addition to staff-led financial literacy sessions, young people practice their financial decision-making skills through fun, engaging digital tools and games. Teens who complete Money Matters show improved financial management skills, including saving money and sticking to a budget. Program is supported by Charles Schwab Foundation.

Money Smart (2024). Money Smart for Young People. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. https://www.fdic.gov/resources/consumers/money-smart/teach-money-smart/money-smart-for-young-people/index.html – FDIC Money Smart for Young People features four free age-appropriate curricula that promote financial understanding and are specifically designed for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade educators.


Condoms

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Increase the proportion of adolescent males who used a condom the last time they had sex. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/family-planning/increase-proportion-adolescent-males-who-used-condom-last-time-they-had-sex-fp-06

Tibbits, M., Ndashe, T.P., King, K., & Siahpush, M. (2018). Promoting Condom Use Through a Youth-Focused Community-Wide Free Condom Distribution Initiative. American Journal of Public Health, 108(11):1506-1508. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304679.


High School Diploma

Zaff, J., Donlan, A., Gunning, A., Anderson, S., McDermott, E., & Sedaca, M. (2017). Factors that promote high school graduation: A review of the literature. Educ Psychol Rev, 29, 447 – 476. DOI 10.1007/s10648-016-9363-5

Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenges in Raising High School Graduation Rates, Annual Update 2019. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED597661.pdf

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Increase the proportion of high school students who graduate in 4 years. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/adolescents/increase-proportion-high-school-students-who-graduate-4-years-ah-08


HPV Vaccine

Kaul, S., Do, T., Hsu, E., Shmeler, K., Montealegre, J., & Rodriguez (2019). School-based human papillomavirus vaccination program for increasing vaccine uptake in an underserved area in Texas. Papillomavirus Research, 8, 100189, 1 – 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pvr.2019.100189

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021, November 16). Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know.  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/public/index.html#:~:text=HPV%20vaccine%20may%20be%20available,vaccine%2C%20ask%20for%20a%20referral

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Increase the proportion of adolescents who get recommended doses of the HPV vaccine. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/vaccination/increase-proportion-adolescents-who-get-recommended-doses-hpv-vaccine-iid-08


Menstruation Products

UNICEF (n.d.). Menstrual Hygiene: Gender inequality, cultural taboos and poverty can cause menstrual health needs to go unmet. https://www.unicef.org/wash/menstrual-hygiene

UNICEF (2019). Guide to Menstrual Hygiene Materials. https://www.unicef.org/media/91346/file/UNICEF-Guide-menstrual-hygiene-materials-2019.pdf


Naloxone

Chadi, N. & Hadland, S. (2019). Youth Access to Naloxone: The Next Frontier? Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(50), 571-572. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.08.005

Reid, M., Whaley, S., & Allen, S. T. (n.d.) Harm Reduction Vending Machines: What are they and do they work? John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. https://opioidprinciples.jhsph.edu/harm-reduction-vending-machines-what-are-they-and-do-they-work/

Stop Overdose (2024). Lifesaving Naloxone. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/naloxone.html

National Institute on Drug Abuse (2022). Naloxone Drug Facts. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone#:~:text=It%20is%20an%20opioid%20antagonist,because%20of%20an%20opioid%20overdose.


Name Change Assistance

Vance, S. (2018). The Importance of Getting the Name Right for Transgender and Other Gender Expansive Youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 63(4), 379-380. :https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.07.022

Movement Advancement Project (2024). Identity Document Laws and Policies. https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_documents

Photo ID

Sander, C., Burnett, K., Lam, S., Hassan, M., & Skinner, K. (2020). “You Need an ID to Get an ID”: A scoping review of personal identification as a barrier to and facilitator of the social determinants of health in North America. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12):4227. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17124227

Pierce, M. (2024). Proof of ID: Building access and personhood in the social service ecosystem through exchange. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 43(2), 95-111. https://doi.org/10.1177/074391562311903

Kolb, L. & Pokempner, J. (2017). Proving I Exist: Strategies for Assisting Youth in Obtaining Identification Documents. American Bar Association. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/newsletters/childrens-rights/strategies-assisting-youth-obtaining-identification-documents/

Smartphone

Lal, S., Halicki-Asakawa, A., & Fauvelle, A. (2021). A Scoping Review on Access and Use of Technology in Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Implications for Healthcare. Frontiers in Digital Health, 3, article 782145. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2021.782145

Thurman, W., Semwal, M., Moczygemba, L., & Hilbelink, M. (2021). Smartphone Technology to Empower People Experiencing Homelessness: Secondary Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(9), e27787. doi: 10.2196/27787

Events

Economic Stability

Cash for change!

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Poverty. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/poverty

Chapin Hall. (n.d.) Innovative Direct Cash Transfer pilot program for youth experiencing homelessness to expand to San Francisco. The University of Chicago. https://www.chapinhall.org/project/innovative-direct-cash-transfer-pilot-program-for-youth-experiencing-homelessness-to-expand-to-san-francisco/

Division X Technical Assistance (2023). Providing Direct Financial Assistance to Youth and Young Adults. Child Welfare Capacity Building Collaborative. https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/sites/default/files/media_pdf/Providing%20Direct%20Financial%20Assistance%20to%20Youth%20and%20Young%20Adults_508.pdf


Still searching for the right fit!

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Employment. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/employment

Kaya, C., Chan, F., Rumrill, P., Hartman, E., Wehman, P., Iwanaga, K., Pai, C.H., & Avellone, L. (2016). Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Competitive Employment for Transition-age Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 45, 73-83. DOI: 10.3233/JVR-160812

Rast, J. E., Roux, A. M., Shattuck, P.T. (2020). Use of Vocational Rehabilitation Supports for Postsecondary Education Among Transition-Age Youth on the Autism Spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50, 2164-2173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03972-8


Education Quality & Access

Bullying: On the menu

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Schools. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/schools

Craig, J.T., Gregus, S.J., Elledge, L.C., Pastrana, F.A., Cavell, T.A. (2016). Preliminary investigation of the relationship between lunchroom peer acceptance and peer victimization. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 43, 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2016.01.005


Oh baby, it’s about time!

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). High School Graduation. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/high-school-graduation

National Women’s Law Center (2023). Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Students in Middle Schools and High Schools: Flexible school attendance laws [Report]. https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ExcusedAbsenceReport.pdf

Healthy Teen Network (2017). Educational Equity for Young People Who Are Pregnant & Parenting: Schools must ensure their compliance with Title IX by instituting equitable policies and ensuring the rights of young parents are protected [Position Statement]. https://reshapingnetwork.org/resources/position-statement-educational-equity-young-people-pregnant-parenting/


Still counting on progress!

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Early Childhood Development and Education. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/early-childhood-development-and-education#cit2

National Head Start Association (2022). Head Start United: Removing barriers to access for children and families [Report]. https://nhsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Head-Start-United-Removing-Barriers-to-Access-for-Children-and-Families-1.pdf


Health Care Quality & Access

Tick, tock.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Reduce the proportion of people who can’t get prescription medicines when they need them – AHS-06. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/health-care-access-and-quality/reduce-proportion-people-who-cant-get-prescription-medicines-when-they-need-them-ahs-06

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Reduce the proportion of people who can’t get prescription medicines when they need them – AHS-06. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/family-planning/increase-proportion-women-who-get-needed-publicly-funded-birth-control-services-and-support-fp-09

Guttmacher (2023, September 1). State Laws and Policies: Emergency contraception. https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/emergency-contraception

Guttmacher (2023, August 31). State Laws and Policies: Refusing to Provide Health Services. https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/refusing-provide-health-services

National Women’s Law Center (2017). Reproductive Rights & Health: Pharmacy Rules 101 [Fact Sheet]. https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Pharmacy-Refusals-101.pdf


Health information shielded!

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Increase the proportion of adolescents who speak privately with a provider at a preventive medical visit. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/adolescents/increase-proportion-adolescents-who-speak-privately-provider-preventive-medical-visit-ah-02

Pathak, P.R., & Chou, A. (2019). Confidential Care for Adolescents in the U.S. Health Care System. Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, 6(1):46-50. doi: 10.17294/2330-0698.1656.

So, M. (2024). Differences in Receipt of Time Alone with Healthcare Providers Among US Youth Ages 12–17. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 37(2) 309-315. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2023.230222R1

Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine (2016). Confidentiality Protections for Adolescents and Young Adults in the Health Care Billing and Insurance Claims Process [Position Paper]. Journal of Adolescent Health, 58, 374 -377. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.12.009


Neighborhood & Built Environment

Does red tape fill an empty belly?

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Access to Foods That Support Healthy Dietary Patterns. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/access-foods-support-healthy-dietary-patterns#cit5

Schweitzer, J. (2022, May 5). How to Address the Administrative Burdens of Accessing the Safety Net [Report}. The Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/how-to-address-the-administrative-burdens-of-accessing-the-safety-net/

Barnes, C.Y. (2020). “It Takes a While to Get Used to”: The costs of redeeming public benefits. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 31(2), 295–310. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muaa042


Home sweet home!

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Quality of Housing. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/quality-housing

Weitzman, M., Baten, A., Rosenthal, D.G. , Hoshino, R., Tohn, E., Jacobs, D.E. (2013). Housing and Child Health. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 43(8), 187-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2013.06.001


Social & Community Context

The importance of names…

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Civic Participation. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Social Cohesion.

https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/social-cohesion

Russell, S. T., Pollitt, A.M., Li, G., and Grossman, A.H. (2018). Chosen Name Use is Linked to Reduced Symptoms, Suicidal Ideation and Behavior among Transgender Youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 63(4), 503 -505. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.02.003

The Trevor Project. (2023). 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/assets/static/05_TREVOR05_2023survey.pdf [PDF]