For youth-friendly healthcare providers near you, information is provided on their location, contact information, and the youth-friendly criteria they meet. For youth-friendly condom vendors near you, information is provided on their location, contact information, and the youth-friendly criteria they meet.
(MDCPS) Carroll County Child Protective Services
Support Human & Placement ServicesCarrol County(MDCPS) MS Child Protective Services
Support Human & Placement ServicesPanola County(MDCPS) MS Department of Child Protective Services Quitman County Office
Support Human & Placement ServicesQuitman County(MDHS) MS Department of Human Services – Chickasaw County
Support Human & Placement ServicesChickasaw County(Region IV) Mental Health Services
Mental Health & Drug/Alcohol AssistanceTishomingo County24-Hour Mental Health Hotline
Mental Health & Drug/Alcohol AssistanceLee County28th Place Hattiesburg Clinic
Health & Medical ServicesForrest County3 Step Daycare Center 2
Child Care & Children's ProgramsAttala County3:00 P.M. Academy
Child Care & Children's ProgramsMarshall County4-H Club @ Mississippi State University Extension-Lamar County
Child Care & Children's ProgramsLamar County
There are many components of appropriate healthcare services and protocols for young persons. Unfortunately, many of the nuances of these components are not known and/or implemented by many healthcare providers in Mississippi. The following are best-practices for youth-friendly healthcare services, which were drawn on research from four key sources (see bottom of page for sources):
- Accessible and Affordable Services: Ensure that services are affordable and accessible for teens
- Confidentiality: Assure that young people have confidential access to contraceptive services
- Reproductive and Sexual Health Care: Establish teen-specific protocols for reproductive & sexual health services
- Staff Development: Ensure staff’s well-being and professional development
- Title X Health Center: Health centers that are funded through Title X funds
Teen Health Mississippi is working to train healthcare providers throughout the state on youth-friendly healthcare services that will help them provide the care and services young persons need. These trainings will emphasize the best-practices listed above that have been found through research to be important components of appropriate services for adolescents and young adults.
Youth-friendly Condom Access
Teen Health Mississippi is also working to ensure that grocery stores, discount stores, pharmacies, and other vendors in communities throughout the state provide youth-friendly access to condoms in their stores. Some important characteristics of youth-friendly condom access include:
- Signs in the store that help young persons locate where condoms and/or other contraceptives are located
- Friendly employees willing to help young persons when asked about the location of condoms in the store
- Condoms located out in the aisle and not behind the pharmacy or checkout counter or locked up behind a glass case
- Affordable
- Pamphlets or information on sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, and/or pregnancy prevention located near the condoms
We’ve conducted condom surveys in 16 counties statewide. We went into stores to fill out surveys on signs, placement, and product variety. We also recorded reactions from workers when asked the question, “Can you please tell me where the condoms are?” Click on the counties below to see the results of our condom surveys and were you can find youth-friendly access to condoms in your community.
Sources
Alford S. From Research to Practice: Youth-Friendly Reproductive and Sexual Health Services. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2011.
Alford S. Science and Success. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2008.
Burlew R, Philliber S. What Helps in Providing Contraceptive Services for Teens. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2006.
Kirby D. Emerging Answers 2007: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Washington, DC: National Campaign, 2007.