In the Dane County area, there are many community resources that focus on early childhood development and family support. However, there are limited resources and spaces designed specifically for teens. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) during formative adolescent years are associated with long-term health consequences including increased risks for teen pregnancy, sex trafficking involvement, mental illness, substance misuse, suicide ideation, and chronic disease. Overall, there is a great need for teen-specific spaces, to engage socially and receive educational, occupational, community, and health resources.

The Verona Road West area of Fitchburg is identified as a Priority Neighborhood area for increasing access to community opportunities, particularly for youth aged 11-19. In partnership with the City of Fitchburg’s Healthy Neighborhood Initiative and the Fitchburg City Council, the development of a Teen Center was proposed in spring 2022. The Community Engagement phase (Phase 1) consists of collecting youth and community input about the proposed Teen Center space. Visualizations and building concepts will be provided at the end of the Concept Development & Design phase (Phase 2). A feasibility study will be the final phase (Phase 3) before construction begins.

Phase 1 – Community Engagement Study

Phase 2 – Feasibility & Design Study

A partnership between FACT Wisconsin, Public Health Madison & Dane County, and UW-Extension. Local 8th-12th graders in the Warner Park/North Side area of Madison are engaging in public health outreach and are working together to create peer-to-peer community impact projects around tobacco prevention for youth. See what we have been up to on social media!