Youth-Centered Care
Youth-Centered Care (YCC) helps youth build the skills and knowledge they need to be their own advocates as they transition to adult healthcare systems. This framework ensures young people have access to health and mental health care services, settings, and providers that do three things: understand the developmental tasks of adolescence, engage young people in understanding their own contexts, and engage them as active decision makers.
This is a compilation of key elements of youth-centered care based on the World Health Organization’s eight global standards for youth-centered care. An accompanying online searchable database links to more than 150 resources and examples from 33 states. Compiled by NNSAHC and SAHRC.
This 23-minute video from AMCHP defines youth-centered care and identifies common pitfalls in adolescent health systems related to healthcare delivery and programming. A discussion on the difference between dryer sheets and velcro is an entertaining metaphor for the value of caregiver involvement.
The University of Michigan's School of Medicine’s Spark tools are free, ready-to-use, 15-30 minute conversation starters for multidisciplinary audiences. The PowerPoint presentation, facilitator script, and follow-up materials are great for staff meetings or professional development opportunities. Visit the Sparks library for topics like Identifying and Supporting Trafficked Youth; Strengths-Based Approaches to Adolescent Sexual Health; and Confidentiality Laws and Best Practices.
This SAHRC compilation of "best of" resources for jurisdictions looking to up their SBHC game also features interviews with SAHCs in Washington and Louisiana.
This resource is the School-Based Health Alliance’s online youth engagement toolkit, designed for individuals who work in school-based or community health centers who want to engage youth in their work.