A Federal Monitoring System for Early Adult Health

Federal statistical agencies have spent decades developing a robust system for monitoring the health of America's adolescents at the national and state levels. More recently, the health of young adults (roughly 18-24 years of age) has received greater attention in public health and health policy discussions, yet relatively little is known about the nation's capacity to effectively monitor the health of this age group. This article reviews existing federal data collection efforts and reporting systems to identify what pieces currently exist to support an effective health monitoring system for young adults and what is still needed, and makes recommendations for enhancing the current system by improving data access and quality. In particular, a major step toward establishing a recognizable health monitoring system for young adults can be taken simply by pulling together existing data into organized chartbooks and web portals that focus on this age group.