May 24, 2013
April 17, 2012 - Ongoing questions and concerns have been raised about confidential services provided by the Bassett School-Based Health Center at Middleburgh Central School District. While the Basset School-Based Health Center is located in the district, it is not run by the district. The center’s policies regarding confidentiality are not set by the district, but by the state. The School-Based Health Center functions as an on-campus doctor's office, unaffiliated with the school nurse, and intended to provide all students with equitable access to comprehensive health care services, free of charge. Enrollment in the Bassett Health Center is optional and requires parental consent.
In light of the recent concerns, MSCD wants to emphasize that students who are enrolled in the School-Based Health Center are afforded no greater confidentiality than they would be by any other healthcare provider in New York state.
Confidentiality of health care is a complicated issue for many parents, who want their children to be safe and healthy, but also want to remain informed about their children’s activities, health and wellbeing.
The reality is that in New York state, every child over the age of 13 is legally entitled access to confidential mental and reproductive health services.
All health care providers, including walk-in clinics, health centers and family doctors are mandated to provide mental and reproductive health services without requiring parental consent or notification. This includes access to sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, contraception, and substance abuse and mental health treatment and counseling.
While healthcare providers do counsel minors seeking treatment to talk to a parent, guardian or trusted adult, these services are provided on a confidential basis in many states since fear of disclosure often prevents minors from seeking services. A survey conducted by the American Medical Association found that only 45 percent of adolescents surveyed would seek care for depression if parental notification was required and fewer than 20 percent would seek care related to birth control, STDs, or drug use if parental notice was mandated. When young people are assured that health care providers will respect their right to confidentiality, they are more likely to seek care.
While the laws surrounding the availability of certain health care services to minors may be controversial, confidential access to those services remains the legal right of all New York adolescents.
But, just as every adolescent has the right to these services, every parent has the right—and the responsibility—to talk to their children about the difficult issues these services address.
April 21 is the Partnership for Drug Free America’s “National Talk to Your Kid’s Day,” a day designated to promote open and honest discussion about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Middleburgh Central School District encourages all parents to take part in this nationwide initiative to engage in difficult but critical conversations with our children, not only about substance abuse, but about sexuality and reproductive and mental health.
Discussing these topics with teens can be a daunting task. The following links provide information, advice and resources to help parents and adolescents approach conversations about teen health. If you are ever concerned about your child’s health or welfare for any reason, don’t hesitate to contact the school for assistance. Our counseling, teaching and administrative staff are here to help.
General resources for talking with your teen:
Talking about substance abuse:
Partnership for Drug Free America
Recognizing and talking about mental health problems:
HealthyChildren: Warning signs of teen mental health problems
RaisingChildren: Teenage mental health
AACAP: Glossary of symptoms and mental illnesses affecting teenages
Talking with about sex and reproductive health:
Planned Parenthood: Talking to kids about sex and sexuality
American Academy of Pediatrics: Talking to Your Teen About Sex and Sexuality - pdf
For more information about the Bassett Healthcare Network’s School Based Health Centers , please visit http://www.bassett.org/our-network/patient-services/childrens-health/school-based-health-centers
And for details about the School Based Health Center located at Middleburg Middle School/High School, please visit http://www.middleburghcsd.org/healthcenters/healthcenters.cfm
