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Making your practice teen-friendly

Adolescent barriers to services

Teen friendly services are critical to reaching teens and to promote adolescent health. Adolescents face barriers to services that are unique to their age group:

  • Loss of confidentiality
  • Cost
  • Past poor treatment by adults
  • Difficulty with transportation to appointments
  • School, work and family schedules that conflict with appointments
  • See also: Advocates for YouthAdvocates for Youth is dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health.

Confidentiality

In Washington state, all health care services offered at a family planning clinic are considered "confidential." This means youth of any age can get these services without a parent or guardian signing a consent form.

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