title: Establishing a clinic for young people in a rural setting: a community initiative to meet the needs of rural adolescents.
abstract: This paper describes the establishment and evaluation of a rural clinic for young people. A conceptual approach to community development was used to establish the clinic in a small north Victorian rural health service, with qualitative methods used to evaluate services. Study participants were members of an operational committee and advisory committee for the establishment of the rural clinic for young people. The clinic was evaluated against the World Health Organization framework for the development of youth-friendly services. With robust community support, the clinic was established and is operational. Most consultations have been for sexual and mental health. Qualitative evaluation identifies that not all the World Health Organization benchmarks have been met, but this is hampered predominantly by financial constraints. In conclusion, establishing clinic for young people in a small rural setting can be achieved with community support and the development of referral pathways.
authors.affiliation: Rural Health Academic Network, University of Melbourne, 49 Graham Street, Shepparton, Vic. 3644, Australia.
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ervin
authors.affiliation: Numurkah District Health Service, 2 Katamatite-Nathalia Road, Numurkah, Vic. 3636, Australia.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Centre for Excellence for Rural Sexual Health, University of Melbourne, 49 Graham Street, Shepparton, Vic. 3630, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomnay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012424:Rural Population; D014739:Victoria