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Youth-Friendly Services:

Providing Welcoming and Affirming Care To All Young People

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CDC Acknowledgement�

This presentation is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the oﬃcial views or endorsement of the CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Housekeeping

Questions

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After the webinar…

Please complete the evaluation
A copy of the presentation slides and the tools we discuss today will be sent in a follow-up email
Feel free to reach out with any additional questions

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Identify the barriers that young people may face in accessing sexual health services
List the best practices of youth-friendly services
Implement at least one best practice to make services more youth-friendly

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Accessing Services Supports the Whole Child

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child

http://www.ascd.org/programs/learning-and-health/wscc-model.aspx

Health Services

Connect staff, students, and community healthcare providers

Supports:

Early intervention
Preventative care
Wellness promotion

The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model was developed in collaboration by educators and public health practitioners who many times are serving the same children, in the same location and addressing the same related issues. These professionals have recognized the connection between health and academic achievement. A child who is not healthy, may struggle with school; and a child who struggles to maintain their education will struggle in be healthy now and in the future. By developing a model that does not divide the needs of a child but addresses both health and education with a surrounding support system of community will help advance the well-being and education of students.

One of the 10 components of the WSCC Model is Health Services, which supports the connection school staff, students, families, community and healthcare providers to promote the health care of students and a healthy and safe school environment.

Helping young people know what services they can access can assist with early intervention of potential health problems, can support preventative care, and wellness promotion.

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What are Youth-Friendly Services?

Youth-friendly healthcare services are those that attract young people, respond to their needs, and retain young clients for continuing care.

Youth-friendly services are based on a comprehensive understanding of what young people want and need (rather than being based only on what providers believe youth need).

Office of Adolescent Health: Referrals and Linkages to Youth-Friendly Health Care Services

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Why are Youth-Friendly Services Important?

School nurses have an important and impactful role in the lives of young people:

Promote health and safety
Intervene with actual and potential health problems
Provide case management services
Actively collaborate with others to build student capacity for adaptation, self-advocacy, and learning

LACK of youth-friendly services can cause young people to:

Leave the health center or school nurse office before they get the care they need
Fail to comply with treatment requirements (such as taking medicine on time, getting physical therapy, etc.)
Refuse or forget follow-up care

Youth-friendly services ensure young people show up for services & get the respectful care they need (and come back!)

https://advocatesforyouth.org/resources/health-information/bp-youth-friendly-services/

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Characteristics of �Youth-Friendly Services

Physical Environment/Service Offerings

Accessible
Welcoming environment
Integrated services
Effective sexual health services

Provider Behavior

Respectful and culturally competent
Confidential care

Photo from Adolescent Health Initiative

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A.M. is a 15-year-old student at your high school

She has recently started having sex with her boyfriend
She thinks she may want to start birth control
She’s worried about how much a visit might cost
She’s worried about feeling stigmatized about sexual activity and about confidentiality
She’d like to go after school today

Case example

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What are some potential barriers that A.M. might face in accessing care?

Case example

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Accessible

Hours
Location
Cost
Ease of scheduling
Transportation
Advertising/student outreach

Physical Environment

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Case example

L.J. is a 17-year-old student at your high school

She is a new student and has never been to the nurse’s office before
She had a bad experience with the nurse at her last school, so she’s been hesitant to come in
She wants more information on sexual orientation but she’s nervous about asking

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Case example

What are some potential barriers that L.J. might face in accessing care?

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Welcoming environment

Nurse’s office is comfortable
Posters reflect diversity
Student education materials available
Nurse is friendly and welcoming

Physical Environment

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J.W. is a 16-year-old student at your school

He comes into the school clinic for a sports physical so he can run track
He has several dental cavities that are causing pain, but he doesn’t have a regular dentist or dental insurance

Case example

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What are some potential barriers that J.W. might face in accessing care?

Case example

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Integrated services

Address range of health care needs
Strong referral system to other programs, including social services
Follow appropriate screening and health maintenance guidelines

Physical Environment

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S.G. is a 16-year-old student at your high school

She is sexually active and has been using oral contraceptive pills for 1 year
She has a new sexual partner
She is interested in learning more about an IUD option so she doesn’t have to keep track of her pills

Case example

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What are some potential barriers that S.G. might face in accessing care?

Case example

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Effective sexual health services

Screen and counsel all teens about sexual health
Provide information on a broad range of contraceptive options
Provide referrals to STI counseling, testing, and treatment

Physical Environment

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T.F. is a 17-year-old student at your high school

She identifies as a transgender girl
She asks you to call her by a name that is different than what is on her school record
She comes into the clinic asking about where she can get tested for STIs

Case example

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What are some potential barriers that T.F. might face in accessing care?

Case example

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Respectful and culturally competent

Understand adolescent development
Non-judgmental attitude
Welcoming to all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender or sexual orientation

Provider Behavior

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Being an “Askable Adult”

Photo from https://www.childrens.com/health-wellness/chronic-disease-transition-to-adulthood

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How To Be An Askable Adult

Convey warmth through body language
Use a nonjudgmental tone of voice
Ask open-ended questions
Practice active & reflective listening
Do not make assumptions
Give affirmations; do not deny, criticize, or shame
Make sure conversation focuses on adolescent
Provide clear information, no opinions

From Adolescent Health Initiative

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LGBTQ-Affirming Services

Source: Advocates for Youth A Call to Action: Youth Need Sex Education Retrieved May 1, 2019 https://advocatesforyouth.org/posts/a-call-to-action-lgbtq-youth-need-inclusive-sex-education/

Affirming health education and services:

help youth understand gender identity and sexual orientation with age appropriate and medically accurate information
incorporate positive examples of LGBTQ individuals, romantic relationships, and families
emphasize the need for protection during sex for people of all identities
dispel common myths and stereotypes about behavior and identity

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LGBT Education Resources

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R.S. is a 15-year-old student at your high school

He comes into your office because his girlfriend tested positive for chlamydia and he’s not sure what that means for him
His mother is on staff of a neighboring high school, and knows the nursing staff

Case example

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What are some potential barriers that R.S. might face in accessing care?

Case example

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Confidential care

Post confidentiality policies and students’ rights in visible locations and discuss with patients
Ensure all teachers and school staff are familiar with confidential care policies
For more information on confidential services, please see the Minors Rights webinar

Provider Behavior

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Youth-Friendly Clinical Services are:

Accessible
Welcoming to all teens
Integrated within a system of care
Able to provide referrals and information on quality sexual and reproductive health services
Respectful and culturally competent with a wide range of teens
Confidential

Conclusions

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Steps You Can Take After This Webinar

Review best practices of youth-friendly services
Follow up with any questions you might have to....

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Follow-up Support

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Please complete the evaluation survey. We appreciate your feedback!

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Thank You!

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