About Us - some frequently asked questions
Why a Teen Health Center? The Teen Health Center is concerned about the health of teenagers in the Juneau community. As teens develop into adults, they experience rapid physical and emotional changes. The Juneau Teen Health Center offers both medical and counseling services to support teens and their families. Comprehensive services are free and provided either directly or by referral to other providers, so that some level of convenient, affordable health care is available to high-school aged teens regardless of family income.
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) and YDHS (Marie Drake – Room 206).
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, Juneau Youth Services, AWARE 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, a nutritionist, 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 the teen is currently enrolled in school or not.
How does a student make an appointment? A student or parent may call the Teen Health Center and schedule an appointment or a student may walk in and make an appointment.
How soon can a student get in to see a provider? If urgent, 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, if possible. Passes are issued to students, but teachers have the right to deny a pass during their class time. There are a limited number of lunchtime and before school appointments.
Can a parent pick and choose which services the teen receives? 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? Parents don’t have to sign the Juneau Teen Health Center form. Parents 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 will be provided other than reproductive health services per Alaska law. Parents are encouraged to complete a consent form.
What if parents 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 23% 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 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 counseling offered at the Teen Health Center? Yes. Personal and relationship counseling is offered at the Teen Health Center by mental health clinicians who are employed by Juneau Youth Services and AWARE. 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 and with consent from the student. Family counseling is occasionally available at the Teen Health Center with student consent.
What can parents expect from 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 quarterly 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 523-1624 or the Adolescent Health Care Coordinator at 523-1625. (See the MORE tab for Advisory Board information.)
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Why a Teen Health Center? The Teen Health Center is concerned about the health of teenagers in the Juneau community. As teens develop into adults, they experience rapid physical and emotional changes. The Juneau Teen Health Center offers both medical and counseling services to support teens and their families. Comprehensive services are free and provided either directly or by referral to other providers, so that some level of convenient, affordable health care is available to high-school aged teens regardless of family income.
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) and YDHS (Marie Drake – Room 206).
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, Juneau Youth Services, AWARE 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, a nutritionist, 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 the teen is currently enrolled in school or not.
How does a student make an appointment? A student or parent may call the Teen Health Center and schedule an appointment or a student may walk in and make an appointment.
How soon can a student get in to see a provider? If urgent, 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, if possible. Passes are issued to students, but teachers have the right to deny a pass during their class time. There are a limited number of lunchtime and before school appointments.
Can a parent pick and choose which services the teen receives? 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? Parents don’t have to sign the Juneau Teen Health Center form. Parents 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 will be provided other than reproductive health services per Alaska law. Parents are encouraged to complete a consent form.
What if parents 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 23% 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 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 counseling offered at the Teen Health Center? Yes. Personal and relationship counseling is offered at the Teen Health Center by mental health clinicians who are employed by Juneau Youth Services and AWARE. 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 and with consent from the student. Family counseling is occasionally available at the Teen Health Center with student consent.
What can parents expect from 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 quarterly 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 523-1624 or the Adolescent Health Care Coordinator at 523-1625. (See the MORE tab for Advisory Board information.)
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