Why have a health center specifically devoted to serve teens?

The Corner Health Center is designed to support youth and help them to stay healthy and make responsible decisions. We provide a confidential and youth friendly environment. Clinicians include doctors and nurse practitioners who specialize in the care of teens.

Many teens that come to The Corner are here to seek information, support a friend or receive care for a health problem such as asthma or a sore throat. Some also come here for reproductive health services. Parents are welcome to accompany their child to medical visits.

We encourage all of our patients to discuss their visit with their parents. Most report that they tell their mother and/or father about coming to The Corner. Unfortunately, not all teens are able to tell their parent or guardian that they are sexually active. Some children fear the consequences including abuse. They state that, if their privacy is not guaranteed, they may not seek care. These young people still have a right to services that can help them stay healthy. Because of this, the law requires that all minors have access to confidential birth control services, pregnancy tests, prenatal and postpartum care, mental health and substance abuse services.

Because of confidentiality policies, The Corner cannot discuss your child’s visit with or release medical records to you regarding reproductive health care and mental health services without your child's consent. We are happy to discuss our general reproductive health and other clinic services with you. We also provide you and your child help in keeping the lines of communication open. Honest, open communication between you and your children will help them to understand your values and stay healthy as they mature.

Web Resources
www.advocatesforyouth.org provides information for BOTH parents and teens from an organization that, “respects the right of youth to act responsibly.”
www.thenationalcampaign.org/parents/default.aspx provides information on talking with your teen about relationships and finding out what teens think about sex and love.
www.kidshealth.org provides information in a teen friendly manner about many teen health related topics. It also has a special section devoted solely to parents.
www.familiesaretalking.org is a website of the family project of the Sexuality Education and Information Council of the U.S. (SIECUS). It empowers parents to communicate with their children about sex and tools for communication.

Books
Ruth Bell, Changing Bodies, Changing Lives
Debra Haffner, The Big Talk: A Guide for Talking with Middle Schoolers and Up
Deborah Roffman, Sex and Sexuality: The Thinking Parents Guide to Talking Sense about Sex