Teen Clinic Accessibility

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) has offered a Teen Clinic since 2012. CCPHSD strives to provide the most up to date education to our clients along with confidential care. This combination allows teens to make informed and educated choices while still allowing them to seek care in an environment where they to feel safe enough to have delicate and difficult conversations with a health care provider. Historically Title X and Title V funding have primarily supported the Teen Clinic. Unfortunately, over the last few years both of these funding sources have been lost to Teen Clinic. This situation is not unique to Teen Clinic or CCPHSD, “budget cuts in over half of state and local STI programs have resulted in more than 20 health departments closing” per the CDC (Healio, 2016, pp. 9). Providing STI testing and treatment, expedited partner therapy, education on practicing safe sex (including abstinence) and sexual health care to teens in Coconino County is a funding priority for CCPHSD. When it became necessary for CCPHSD to provide nearly 100% of the financial support for the Teen Clinic, it was important to ensure that the money was being spent in the most effective ways possible. Therefore, a survey was conducted with teen clients who attend the CCPHSD Teen Clinic. With the results of this survey adjustments were made in the hours of operation for the Teen Clinic, allowing CCPHSD to better meet the needs of teen clients. Additionally, the survey revealed that there is a continued need for the clinic.