title: Enhancing Adolescent Reproductive Health Services: Assessment of Health Care Practices in Holyoke and Springfield, MA Engaged in the Youth First Initiative.
abstract: Health care practices can play a key role in reducing teen pregnancies, though current health care systems do not adequately meet adolescents' reproductive health needs. To address this gap, Youth First, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded, community-wide initiative in Holyoke and Springfield (Massachusetts) established partnerships with nine local health care practices to increase adolescent access to health services. However, we had limited knowledge about their reproductive health services and policies. To address this gap, assessments were conducted with staff using structured interviews and surveys to inform targeted efforts to enhance the quality and youth friendliness of adolescent reproductive health services. Findings revealed that many of the youth-friendly services best practices recommended by the CDC were not routinely implemented by all health care practices. Findings from this assessment can be used to support health care practices to facilitate widespread adoption of best practices related to meeting adolescents' reproductive health needs.
authors.forename: Nazmim S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bhuiya
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Sarah Perez
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: McAdoo
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hallum-Montes
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waggett
authors.forename: Shalini A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tendulkar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D060728:Reproductive Health; D034121:Reproductive Health Services