About Us - some frequently asked questions
Why a Teen Health Center? The Juneau Teen Health Center is concerned about the health of teenagers in our community. As teens develop into adults, they experience rapid physical and emotional changes. To support these changes, the Juneau Teen Health Center offers both medical and counseling services. These services are free and are provided either directly or by referral to community providers. School-based health centers strive to support the health, well-being, and academic success of teens by providing easily accessible and free services.
Where is the Juneau Teen Health Center? There is a Teen Health Center clinic in each high school - at JDHS (Room 124); TMHS (Yellow Wing, Room E-214B); YDHS (Marie Drake – Room 206 & counseling in Room203A ).
How much does it cost? All services are free to high school-aged teens making Juneau Teen Health Center an affordable and convenient option for teens and their families.
Who provides health services at the Teen Health Center? Licensed medical professionals and mental health counselors working for SEARHC, NAMI-Juneau and the Juneau Public Health Center provide coordinated services at the Teen Health Center. Currently, there are advanced nurse practitioners, physician assistants, Public Health nurses, and mental health clinicians working at the clinics.
Who can use the Teen Health Center? All high school-aged teens may use the Juneau Teen Health Center. Regardless if teens are enrolled in school or not, homeschooled, or enrolled in Homebridge, the school-based clinics are available to teens of high school age.
How does a student make an appointment? A student may walk in to the clinic and make an appointment. A student or parent may call the Teen Health Center and schedule an appointment. (See Services & Hours Tab above for clinic phone numbers and hours.) Note that drop-in appointments are sometimes possible, but it is better to schedule the appointment in advance especially for Sports Physical exams.
How soon can a student get in to see a provider? The school-based clinics offer a patchwork of services during the school day. Clinics are staffed with medical providers and counselors only on regularly scheduled days and times. (See Services and Hours tab above.) Every attempt is made to fit the student into the schedule at the first available open appointment time. The student’s class schedule will be checked to avoid making an appointment during an academic class period. There are a limited number of lunchtime and before school appointments.
Can a parent pick and choose which services the teen receives at the school-based clinic? No. Our goal is to provide comprehensive and coordinated health services. We encourage communication between parent and teen if there are services that are not desired.
Do parents have to sign a consent form? No, but it is best if they do. Parents/Guardians have three options: 1. Provide Consent - your student will receive any and all services offered (Sign the top box on form.), 2. Withhold Consent - no services will be provided (Sign the bottom box on form.), and 3. Don't sign or ignore the form - no services can be provided other than reproductive health services per Alaska law. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to complete the form.
What if parents or guardians want to be involved in health care decisions for their teen? The Juneau Teen Health Center staff encourage parental involvement. Staff will attempt to involve parents or guardians in all aspects of the student's care, with consent from the student. Clinicians and staff are available to facilitate communication between parents/guardians and teens.
Isn’t the Teen Health Center mainly a birth control clinic? No. In actual practice, reproductive health services are only 20% of total visits and reproductive health appointments focus on education.
What about confidentiality and privacy? The Teen Health Center adheres to all Federal and State laws regarding protected health information and medical records. Parents are given a copy of the Notice of Private Health Care Information (HIPAA) as part of the consent form information packet and a signature is required that acknowledges receipt of the privacy practice information. (See the CONSENT tab for a copy of the HIPAA document).
Is mental health counseling offered at the Teen Health Center? Yes. Individual counseling is offered at the Teen Health Center by mental health clinicians who are Independent Contractors with NAMI-Juneau. Teen Health counseling is brief (usually less than 10 appointments) and referrals for more intensive and in-depth treatment are sometimes made to community mental health clinicians after parental consultation with consent from the student.
What can parents/guardians expect from mental health counseling sessions? Juneau Teen Health Center provides a safe place where students can share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns, learn to handle stress, and gain insights and perspectives with the help of a professional counselor. Counseling sessions are private and confidentiality is a priority. Issues of Harm including self-harm, plan to harm others, or if someone is harming or has harmed the student or there is or has been physical or sexual abuse, will be reported according to Juneau School District policy and Alaska State Law.
Who runs the Teen Health Center? The day-to-day clinic operations of the Juneau Teen Health Center are managed by the Adolescent Health Care Coordinator with support from two administrative staff. The Juneau Teen Health Center Advisory Board provides direction to the coordinator ensuring that clinic services meet the needs of teens and their parents. The Executive Committee comprised of representatives from partner agencies provides resources and oversight for clinic operations and support for planning efforts.
What is the Juneau Teen Health Center Advisory Board? The advisory board is a community-based group comprised of parents, students, educators, school administrators, medical professionals, partner agency representatives and other interested parties. The board meets twice a year to review and comment on Teen Health Center operations. If you are interested in volunteering on the board, please contact the Teen Health Center at 907-523-1624 or the Adolescent Health Care Coordinator at 907-523-1625. (See the MORE tab for Advisory Board information.)
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Why a Teen Health Center? The Juneau Teen Health Center is concerned about the health of teenagers in our community. As teens develop into adults, they experience rapid physical and emotional changes. To support these changes, the Juneau Teen Health Center offers both medical and counseling services. These services are free and are provided either directly or by referral to community providers. School-based health centers strive to support the health, well-being, and academic success of teens by providing easily accessible and free services.
Where is the Juneau Teen Health Center? There is a Teen Health Center clinic in each high school - at JDHS (Room 124); TMHS (Yellow Wing, Room E-214B); YDHS (Marie Drake – Room 206 & counseling in Room203A ).
How much does it cost? All services are free to high school-aged teens making Juneau Teen Health Center an affordable and convenient option for teens and their families.
Who provides health services at the Teen Health Center? Licensed medical professionals and mental health counselors working for SEARHC, NAMI-Juneau and the Juneau Public Health Center provide coordinated services at the Teen Health Center. Currently, there are advanced nurse practitioners, physician assistants, Public Health nurses, and mental health clinicians working at the clinics.
Who can use the Teen Health Center? All high school-aged teens may use the Juneau Teen Health Center. Regardless if teens are enrolled in school or not, homeschooled, or enrolled in Homebridge, the school-based clinics are available to teens of high school age.
How does a student make an appointment? A student may walk in to the clinic and make an appointment. A student or parent may call the Teen Health Center and schedule an appointment. (See Services & Hours Tab above for clinic phone numbers and hours.) Note that drop-in appointments are sometimes possible, but it is better to schedule the appointment in advance especially for Sports Physical exams.
How soon can a student get in to see a provider? The school-based clinics offer a patchwork of services during the school day. Clinics are staffed with medical providers and counselors only on regularly scheduled days and times. (See Services and Hours tab above.) Every attempt is made to fit the student into the schedule at the first available open appointment time. The student’s class schedule will be checked to avoid making an appointment during an academic class period. There are a limited number of lunchtime and before school appointments.
Can a parent pick and choose which services the teen receives at the school-based clinic? No. Our goal is to provide comprehensive and coordinated health services. We encourage communication between parent and teen if there are services that are not desired.
Do parents have to sign a consent form? No, but it is best if they do. Parents/Guardians have three options: 1. Provide Consent - your student will receive any and all services offered (Sign the top box on form.), 2. Withhold Consent - no services will be provided (Sign the bottom box on form.), and 3. Don't sign or ignore the form - no services can be provided other than reproductive health services per Alaska law. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to complete the form.
What if parents or guardians want to be involved in health care decisions for their teen? The Juneau Teen Health Center staff encourage parental involvement. Staff will attempt to involve parents or guardians in all aspects of the student's care, with consent from the student. Clinicians and staff are available to facilitate communication between parents/guardians and teens.
Isn’t the Teen Health Center mainly a birth control clinic? No. In actual practice, reproductive health services are only 20% of total visits and reproductive health appointments focus on education.
What about confidentiality and privacy? The Teen Health Center adheres to all Federal and State laws regarding protected health information and medical records. Parents are given a copy of the Notice of Private Health Care Information (HIPAA) as part of the consent form information packet and a signature is required that acknowledges receipt of the privacy practice information. (See the CONSENT tab for a copy of the HIPAA document).
Is mental health counseling offered at the Teen Health Center? Yes. Individual counseling is offered at the Teen Health Center by mental health clinicians who are Independent Contractors with NAMI-Juneau. Teen Health counseling is brief (usually less than 10 appointments) and referrals for more intensive and in-depth treatment are sometimes made to community mental health clinicians after parental consultation with consent from the student.
What can parents/guardians expect from mental health counseling sessions? Juneau Teen Health Center provides a safe place where students can share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns, learn to handle stress, and gain insights and perspectives with the help of a professional counselor. Counseling sessions are private and confidentiality is a priority. Issues of Harm including self-harm, plan to harm others, or if someone is harming or has harmed the student or there is or has been physical or sexual abuse, will be reported according to Juneau School District policy and Alaska State Law.
Who runs the Teen Health Center? The day-to-day clinic operations of the Juneau Teen Health Center are managed by the Adolescent Health Care Coordinator with support from two administrative staff. The Juneau Teen Health Center Advisory Board provides direction to the coordinator ensuring that clinic services meet the needs of teens and their parents. The Executive Committee comprised of representatives from partner agencies provides resources and oversight for clinic operations and support for planning efforts.
What is the Juneau Teen Health Center Advisory Board? The advisory board is a community-based group comprised of parents, students, educators, school administrators, medical professionals, partner agency representatives and other interested parties. The board meets twice a year to review and comment on Teen Health Center operations. If you are interested in volunteering on the board, please contact the Teen Health Center at 907-523-1624 or the Adolescent Health Care Coordinator at 907-523-1625. (See the MORE tab for Advisory Board information.)
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