2025 Children's of Alabmama Community Health Needs Assessment

BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS STUDENTS: URBAN YOUTH PERSPECTIVES

Seven Birmingham City Schools students (ages 17–19) participated on September 10, 2025. The group reflected the city’s racial demographics, primarily African American youth attending public high schools.

KEY THEMES

Health Information and Misinformation Students often rely on social media for health guidance, cross-checking with Google or peers. They expressed awareness of—but not immunity to—misinformation. Limited Safe Spaces Teens cited few places to gather safely beyond home and school. Parks, libraries, and restaurants were described as restrictive or inaccessible.

Community Safety and Gun Violence Gun violence dominated the discussion. Teens described daily vigilance about personal safety.

“You could be walking down the street and just get hit…. You have to know where you are.”

Mental Health and Social Media Students linked depression and anxiety to social media pressures, cyberbullying, and constant comparison.

“Being depressed is like a trend—everybody online talks about it, and you start to feel that way too.”

Trust in school counselors was limited due to fear of disclosure and mandated reporting.

Risk Behaviors and Peer Influence Vaping and carrying guns were described as normalized behaviors. Peer pressure and online culture amplify these risks.

Parental Relationships Students want structure and safety but perceive many parents as overly permissive or distracted. They also lamented policies—such as mandatory parental attendance at football games—that restrict teen independence.

SUMMARY OF NEEDS

• Youth-friendly, confidential mental health resources in schools. • Safe, affordable community gathering spaces. • Targeted violence-prevention and peer-mentorship programs. • Social media literacy and resilience training.

WEST END (BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY): URBAN CAREGIVERS’ PERSPECTIVES

Held September 17, 2025, this group included seven community members—grandparents, parents, and librarians—active in Birmingham’s West End neighborhood.

KEY THEMES

Intergenerational Caregiving Grandparents and relatives frequently serve as primary caregivers without legal custody, creating challenges in medical, educational, and disciplinary decisions.

Trauma and Mental Health Participants openly discussed childhood abuse and generational trauma, describing its impact on their parenting and hypervigilance.

“I had six brothers, and I didn’t leave my daughter alone with even my brothers.”

Children’s of Alabama, 2025 CHNA

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