Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 2

TAG Toolkit

Led by the Office of Adolescent Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 

Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) is a national call to action to improve adolescent health in the U.S. 

TAG is a comprehensive, strengths-based approach. TAG calls upon organizations and individuals working with teens to 

prioritize activities that improve adolescents’ physical, social, emotional, and mental health. 

In this toolkit you’ll find free TAG resources to help you learn more about how to join TAG and spread the word.

Toolkit Contents

J

J

J 

What is TAG?

The TAG Story 3

TAG, You’re It! 3

Get Started with TAG 

Visit the TAG Website 4

TAG Resources 4

Follow TAG 4

Spread the Word about TAG

Talk about TAG 5

TAG Fact Sheet 5

Tag Slide Deck Template 5

Download a Banner 5

 

Post on Social Media 6

Tweets 6

Facebook Posts 6

LinkedIn Posts 7

Write a Blog 8

Send a Newsletter 9

Note about Using TAG Name and Logo 10

ADOLESCENT

HEALTH

OFFICE OF

Office of Adolescent Health 

Website: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 

Email: TAGTeam@hhs.gov

Twitter: @TeenHealthGov
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 3

What is TAG? 

Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG)1 is a national call to action to improve adolescent health in the U.S. 

TAG aims to reach and engage a wide array of professionals who touch adolescents’ lives, as well as parents and 

adolescents themselves. TAG promotes using strength-based approaches, engaging stakeholders, and bringing in 

youth voices to support healthy development and transitions to productive adulthood for the nation’s 42 million 

adolescents. 

The leading causes of death and disability in adolescents and young adults are largely preventable. TAG calls upon 

organizations and individuals working with teens to prioritize activities that improve adolescents’ physical, social, 

emotional, and behavioral health. Investing in adolescent health yields a “triple dividend” of healthy adolescents, 

future healthy adults, and healthy children in the next generation. TAG also supports the HHS Healthy People 2020 

adolescent health objectives. 

J The TAG Story

Knowing that many of the determinants of health lie largely outside the health system, OAH engaged experts from 

more than 80 national organizations to develop TAG. These organizations represented professionals in the fields of 

healthcare, public health, education, social services, workforce development, out-of-school time and community 

groups, and faith-based communities. Among the groups that helped develop TAG are the American Public Health 

Association and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, which continue to partner with OAH to promote 

TAG, and other groups that serve parents and teens directly. These groups identified the Five Essentials for Healthy 

Adolescents and specific action steps and resources that can help professionals, youth-serving organizations, family 

members, and teens make these essentials a reality. 

TAG builds on previous strategic initiatives in adolescent health and national health promotion efforts. It takes a 

positive youth development approach that builds on young people’s strengths and prioritizes youth engagement. 

Since 2014, TAG has helped raise awareness about adolescent health and healthy development around the country. 

To reach an even broader network of stakeholders, OAH distributes periodic updates to nearly 80,000 subscribers 

and connects with diverse audiences through conferences, webinars, the OAH website, and social media.

J TAG, You’re It!

Working with partners, OAH hopes to spur actions at the national, state, community and family levels that build on 

young people’s talents and potential, provide support, and promote their health. Organizations, agencies, and caring 

adults who work or live with adolescents are invited to join TAG to spur action at the national, state, community, and 

family level that builds on young people’s talent and potential, provides support, and promotes health.

1 TAG is trademarked, please refer to the Note about Using TAG 

Name and Logo at the end of the toolkit for more information.
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 4

Get Started with TAG

J Visit the TAG Website 

The TAG website (https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag)

provides information on the TAG call to action, the Five 

Essentials for Healthy Adolescents, specific actions you can 

take to improve adolescent health, and resources to help 

you in your activities. There is information for everyone:

• 

• 

• 

For Professionals: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/

for-professionals

For Families: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/forfamilies

For Teens: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/for-teens

J TAG Resources 

Resources on the TAG website include:

• 

• 

• 

• 

TAG Playbook - A framework with background, goals 

and action steps for stakeholders committed to 

improving the lives of adolescents. https://www.hhs.

gov/ash/oah/sites/default/files/tag-playbook-2018.pdf

TAG in Action: Successful Strategies - Profiles of 

successful program strategies that improve adolescent 

health throughout the country, such as a mobile teen

health van, school-based health centers, and peer 

education programs. https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/

in-action/

TAG Talks - A video series featuring adolescent health 

experts with practical information on various topics

including: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/resources/

multimedia/

–

–

–

The Power of the Adolescent Brain

The Crisis of Connection for Adolescent Boys

The Changing Transition to Adulthood

Research Reviews - These annotated reviews highlight 

research, evaluation reports, and other publications

on fostering improved health, reducing risky behavior,

and improving engagement and healthy development in

young people. https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/whytag/five-essentials-for-healthy-adolescents.

• J Follow TAG

Join TAG and take action to improve adolescent health 

and healthy development: 

• 

• 

Sign up for monthly e-updates: https://www.hhs.gov/

ash/oah/tag/get-involved/

Follow TAG news on Twitter (@TeenHealthGov) and use 

#TAG42Mil

Contact OAH at TAGTeam@hhs.gov to order 

printed copies of the TAG Playbook for 

meetings, conferences, trainings, and other 

events.
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 5

Spread the Word about TAG 

J Talk about TAG

Help raise awareness about TAG among your colleagues, partners, community stakeholders by sharing what you know. 

TAG Fact Sheet 

Download a one pager that you can 

use to raise awareness about TAG. 

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/

sites/default/files/tag-onepager-051117-508.pdf

TAG Slide Deck 

Template

Download sample slides on TAG 

that you can use in presentations 

and meetings. 

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/

sites/default/files/tag-info-slides.pdf

J Download a Banner

Use TAG banners on your website or in your newsletters and link back to the TAG website to support the TAG effort.

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/get-involved/

ADOLESCENT 

HEALTH

THINK ACT GROW

Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off

ADOLESCENT 

HEALTH

THINK ACT GROW

Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off

ADOLESCENT 

HEALTH

THINK ACT GROW

Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 6

J Post on Social Media

Use or adapt these sample tweets, posts, and pins to share TAG via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Pinterest. 

Don’t forget to use the #TAG42mil hashtag!

t Tweets

Do you care about teens? Join Adolescent Health: 

Think, Act, Grow® (TAG)! http://1.usa.gov/1zR019X

#TAG42mil

Work with teens? Help improve their health and healthy 

development! http://1.usa.gov/1zR019X #TAG42mil

We’ve got 42 million opportunities to improve teen 

health... join us! http://1.usa.gov/1zR019X #TAG42mil

There are 42 mil teens in the U.S. That’s 42 mil 

opportunities to improve health http://1.usa.gov/1zR019X

#TAG42mil

All of us can help adolescents grow to be healthy 

& strong. Join the TAG call to action! http://1.usa.

gov/1zR019X #TAG42mil

We’re joining #TAG42mil to help adolescents be healthy. 

You can too! http://1.usa.gov/1zR019X

Want to help adolescents grow into healthy adults? 

It starts w/ you & me. Join #TAG42mil http://1.usa.

gov/1zR019X

f Facebook Posts

There are 42 million adolescents in the United States. 

That’s 42 million opportunities to support good health 

and positive development. Everyone can play a part, 

including you! Learn more about your role with 

Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG). http://1.

usa.gov/1zR019X

Young people face significant risks and also have many 

strengths. We can make adolescence a time of positive 

change and growth if we all work together. Learn more 

with Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG).

http://1.usa.gov/1zR019X

ADOLESCENT 

HEALTH

THINK ACT GROW

Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off

Twitter Graphic

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/get-involved/

ADOLESCENT 

HEALTH

THINK ACT GROW

Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off

Facebook Share Graphic 

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/get-involved/
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 7

Posts

Together, We Can Promote Adolescent Health

The HHS Office of Adolescent Health is leading a 

national call to action to improve the health and healthy 

development of America’s 42 million adolescents. 

Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) calls on 

youth-serving professionals, families, and youth to take 

action! Learn more: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/.

Making the Most of Adolescence

 Young people face risks and also have many strengths. If 

we all do our part, we can improve the health and healthy 

development of the 42 million teens in the United States. 

Learn more about Adolescent Health: Think, Act, 

Grow® (TAG): https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/.

Join a National Call to Action to Improve 

Adolescent Health

The HHS Office of Adolescent Health and others are 

working together to support the health and healthy 

development of adolescents in the United States through 

a national call to action. Whether you’re a youth-serving 

professional, family member, or teen, you can play a role 

in improving adolescent health. Learn about Adolescent 

Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) here: https://www.

hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag/.

 Pinterest Posts

Share the following pins on your Pinterest board to get 

the word out about TAG. Click through and find sample 

caption information.
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 8

J Write a Blog

Use or adapt the sample blog text below. Add examples of how your organization is working to promote 

adolescent health.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 

Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) has issued a national 

call to action, Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow®

(TAG) to professionals working with young people, 

families, and teens to take steps to improve adolescent 

health and healthy development. https://www.hhs.gov/

ash/oah/tag

Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and change, and 

an important opportunity to intervene and promote 

current and life-long health. 

There are 42 million adolescents between the ages of 10 

and 19 in the U.S. today. That’s 42 million opportunities 

to improve teen’s health and support their healthy 

development! 

Building on research and best practice, OAH obtained 

input from more than 80 leaders of youth-serving 

organizations on what adolescents need to be healthy. 

See the TAG Playbook at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/

sites/default/files/tag-playbook-2018.pdf

• These leaders identified Five Essentials for Healthy 

Adolescents as the central framework for the call 

to action.

• 

• 

To be healthy, adolescents need:

1. Positive connections with supportive people

2. Safe and secure places to live, learn, and play

3. Access to high-quality, teen-friendly 

healthcare

4. Opportunities for teens to engage as learners, 

leaders, team members, and workers

5. Coordinated, adolescent- and 

family-centered services

Describe your organization’s work on adolescent health 

and how it relates to one or more of the Five Essentials. 

Our organization is proud to join OAH and 

Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) to 

prioritize and improve the health of America’s 42 

million adolescents. 
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 9

J Send a Newsletter

Use or adapt the sample newsletter text below to fit your needs.

• Five Essentials for Healthy Adolescents serve as the core 

framework for the call to action.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) is a 

national call to action to improve adolescent health 

in the U.S. Led by the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services’ Office of Adolescent Health, TAG 

is a comprehensive, strengths-based approach to 

adolescent health. 

There are 42 million adolescents between the ages 

of 10 and 19 in the U.S. today. That’s 42 million 

opportunities to improve teen’s health and support 

their healthy development! 

TAG calls on all professionals working with young 

people, families, and teens to take steps to improve 

adolescent health and healthy development. 

Learn more about TAG and how you can act to 

improve adolescent health today by downloading 

the TAG Playbook at www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/tag 

Follow OAH on Twitter at @TeenHealthGov and 

#TAG42mil for the latest information on the TAG 

call to action.

Additional information can be included: 

• Did you know that 1 out of 8 Americans are 

adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19? Too little 

attention has been paid to improving the overall 

health and healthy development of America’s 42 

million adolescents. 

• Adolescence is a time of rapid change and 

development. It is a critical period for intervening to 

set the course for lifelong health.

• OAH, together with leaders in adolescent 

development, identified Five Essentials that all 

adolescents need to grow and to flourish. 

To be healthy, adolescents need:

1. Positive connections with supportive people

2. Safe and secure places to live, learn, and play

3. Access to high-quality, teen-friendly 

healthcare

4. Opportunities for teens to engage as learners, 

leaders, team members, and workers

5. Coordinated, adolescent- and 

family-centered services

• OAH is challenging adults and organizations that 

serve youth to get involved or expand your activities to 

promote adolescent health. 

- 

- 

- 

- 

The Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow®

(TAG) call to action offers specific action steps and 

resources you can use to:

Take action. Use the Five Essentials and TAG action 

steps to improve adolescent health. Use TAG to 

expand your work through new collaborations or 

partnerships.

Spread the word. Tweet or write a blog post about 

TAG, and share with your networks. 

Show your support and join TAG. Sign up for 

updates on the TAG website and download banners. 

Tell us how you are taking action on TAG.
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 10

J Note about Using TAG Name and Logo

The phrase Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (word mark) and the TAG logo (logo mark) are registered trademarks

of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Please follow the guidelines below when using the word mark or 

logo mark.

When using the TAG word mark:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

– 

– 

Use the full name of TAG and registered trademark symbol (the “word mark”) at least once in an article, publication, 

webpage, blog post, slide, email or other document, either the first time it is used or in the most prominent place.

Use the format below (initial caps, bold type, words followed

by registered trademark symbol ®) and be consistent in its use 

across all documents, webpages, etc. 

After the initial use, you can use the abbreviation TAG with 

no ® symbol. 

Whenever possible use the registered trademark as an 

adjective, not a noun. 

Example: “The Adolescent Health: Think, Act, 

Grow® (TAG) call to action involves....”

Exception: When using the registered trademark in

a title slide or a document header you can use it as a 

noun. Example: Adolescent Health: Think, Act, 

Grow®: An Overview

Use this statement in the footer or at the end of printed materials, slide presentations, and web pages: Adolescent 

Health: Think, Act, Grow® and the logo design are registered trademarks of HHS.”

Do not combine the registered trademark with the name of any licensee or third party product, program or service to 

create a composite mark.

How to create the official registered 

trademark symbol: 

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+R; this will produce the® 

symbol in one step.

2. In some versions of MS Office programs, the

symbol ® is located under Insert w Symbols →

More Symbols w Special Characters.

When using the TAG logo mark:

• Ask OAH for an official version of the TAG logo (the “logo mark”).

Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off

ADOLESCENT 

HEALTH

THINK ACT GROW
Office of Adolescent Health | www.hhs.gov/ash/oah 11

• 

• 

– 

– 

Do not use the registered trademark symbol (®) with the logo.

Instead, use one of the following phrases below the logo:

“Registered, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office” or

“Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off ”

Additional information: 

• 

• 

• 

HHS and non-HHS partner organizations can use TAG materials that feature the TAG logo mark and the TAG word 

mark AND can reference the word mark in describing the program. 

HHS partner organizations can use the TAG logo mark without obtaining a license. 

Non-HHS partner organizations that plan to use the TAG logo mark on their web site and/or other materials that they 

create themselves must contact OAH about obtaining a license. 

Thanks for helping to promote TAG and the effort to improve the health and well-being of adolescents!

TAG, you’re it!