Title XX Introduction: Care

Each care program is unique and facilitates services in a special way. All care projects are required by the authorizing statute to provide a set of ten “core services” to their clients. Core services can be provided either directly from the grantee or through a referral mechanism.

Not all AFL care projects can provide all of the 10 core services directly. Each organization will have limitations on the services directly available. Instead, care projects are expected to refer to and partner with outside agencies. Referral agencies should be chosen carefully and screened to ensure that appropriate services are offered through those agencies and that the referral sources are compliant with AFL policies. Referrals to outside agencies should be made intentionally and thoughtfully. They should be checked frequently to ensure that the phone numbers still work, any identified contact is still there, and the services are still offered. It can be a setback for an adolescent to reach out for assistance only to be sent to an agency that no longer can help them or is not teen friendly! It is also important that care projects follow up with clients to determine if they received the help they needed from the referral agency. Some sort of tracking procedure should be in place for referrals.

The 10 core services are:

1. Pregnancy testing and maternity counseling;
2. Adoption counseling and referral services which present adoption as an option for pregnant adolescents, including referral to licensed adoption agencies in the community if the eligible grant recipient is not a licensed adoption agency;
3. Primary and preventive health services, including prenatal and postnatal care;
4. Nutrition information and counseling;
5. Referral for screening and treatment of STIs, including HIV/AIDS;
6. Referral to appropriate pediatric care;
7. Educational services relating to family life and problems associated with adolescent premarital sexual relations including: Information about adoption; Responsibilities of sexuality and parenting; Development of material to support the role of parents as the providers of sex education; and Assistance to parents, schools, youth agencies and health providers to educate adolescents and preadolescents concerning self-discipline and responsibility in human sexuality;
8. Appropriate educational and vocational services;
9. Mental health services and referral to mental health services and to other appropriate physical health services; and
10. Counseling and referral for family planning services.

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