Issue:

Many health professionals are reluctant to treat adolescents because they are unsure of laws regarding confidentiality and minor’s rights to care. They also may be unfamiliar with the most recent medical protocols for treatment in the area of adolescent reproductive health.

Project:

Create a network of Georgia health care professionals knowledgeable about adolescent reproductive health and increase their ability to provide culturally competent, legal, and up-to-date reproductive health services for adolescents through providing flexible training on a variety of topics.

Result:

Over the life of the project, 500 professionals received at least one educational component through 37 educational presentations.

Following training, participants were asked to submit training evaluations. Three-hundred twenty-five (325) professionals turned in evaluations that indicated:

• 95% improved their knowledge level
• 95% intended to teach the information to others
• 80% were more likely to provide services to adolescents

A six-month follow-up is assessing the value of the training to participants over time.