Advocate For Minor Consent Medical!

One of the most basic fundamentals of the services our agencies and organizations provide to youth is Minor Consent Medical. Recently some of the providers in the YSOC have been involved in a series of meetings with the county regarding Minor Consent Medical access at school sites. Due to budget cuts, the county had to look at ways to consolidate services areas within the county to continue going out to school sites. Given that it would be a huge loss for our clients if they were unable to sign-up for Minor Consent Medical at the place where they access services, imagine what could happen if the entire Minor Consent Medical program were to be cut in the on-going budget revision process.
Part of our strategic plan is to advocate for state, federal, and local policies to support the YSOC. Given the current budget crisis that has already had a huge impact on our field, now is a critical time to advocate for our cause. Let's tell our legislators that many of our clients need Minor Consent Medical in order to access services and to get their lives back on track. The following is an example of an advocacy letter I drafted. It is addressed to Senator Darrell Steinberg, one of our representatives. Our assemblyman is Dave Jones. You could also send your letter to the County Supervisors. Another idea is to have clients at your agency write letters; this could be done in groups, and the agency could collect the hand-written (un-signed) letters and send them to a legislator (or multiple legislators!) along with a letter of explanation as to who wrote the letters and why they are anonymous.

Example of Advocacy Letter:

Dear Senator Steinberg,

I am a social worker who works at a substance abuse and mental health services agency, Another Choice, Another Chance, for youth ages 12-19. Our agency not only provides valuable services to youth, but also to their families through various supportive services, including family advocacy, sibling support groups, and help finding employment. Many of our clients access our services via Minor Consent Medical. Many times, youth are unable to access the services they so desperately need, either because they are afraid to tell their parents they need help, or, because their parents refuse to allow them to access services. Minor Consent Medical allows youth who would not otherwise be able to access services to receive confidential treatment in mental health, alcohol and other drug, or both. Minor Consent Medical opens up a variety of treatment opportunities for youth, including on-site treatment at middle and high schools.

I am writing to you because during this budget crisis, while every sector of the economy is suffering, the area of social services has been particularly devastated by state budget cuts. While we as social workers work with the most vulnerable members of society, the youth we serve are especially vulnerable given their status as minors. Minor Consent Medical is a valuable and empowering resource for youth, allowing them to exercise agency in choosing what is best for them when their parents or guardians are unable to make the right decisions with regard to their treatment needs. Without Minor Consent Medical, many youth would be unable to access services that can help them end harmful behavioral patterns that limit their opportunities for successful futures.

The youth who access Minor Consent Medical resources and the workers that serve them need your support; I would like to ask you to please consider these youth during the process of revising the budget for next year.

Thank you for your support and consideration.

Sincerely,

Melody Hazzard

Contact Information for Local Legislators:

Senator Darrell Steinberg
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814

Assemblyman Dave Jones
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0009

Sacramento County Board of Supervisors

Roger Dickinson (D-1), Jimmie Yee (D-2), Susan Peters (D-3), Roberta MacGlashan (D-4), Don Nottoli (D-5)
700 H Street, Suite 2450
Sacramento, CA 95814