Baylor Teen Health Clinic expands services to all teens

By Dana Benson

Houston teen girls have long had a place to turn for low-cost or free reproductive health care—the Baylor Teen Health Clinic.

But since its founding in 1971, the clinic has expanded, and today its six locations, including the main clinic at Ben Taub General Hospital, offer not just reproductive services but also primary health care. And, its patients aren't just teenage girls anymore. Over the last decade, the clinic has increasingly focused on health care and other resources for young men.

Men's programs started in 1998

The young men's programs started in 1998 in collaboration with the Texas Attorney General's Office and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Programs include the Fatherhood Initiative Program, which provides resources for young fathers ages 15 to 25, and the Specialized Male Clinic, which was established in 2003 to address the medical needs of young men between the ages of 17 and 25.

The male clinic is seen as a key element in the prevention of untimely pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, said Peggy Smith, Ph.D., director of the Baylor Teen Health Clinic and professor of obstetrics and gynecology.

"Health services for adolescent men often have been overlooked, but recent studies have shown that educating young men about their overall health and encouraging them to visit the doctor when they're ill and for routine checkups results in more responsible behavior," Smith said.

Sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and teen pregnancy are especially a concern among low-income teenagers, added Ruth Buzi, L.C.S.W., Ph.D., assistant professor and director of social services for the Baylor Teen Health Clinic. "We've always focused on young women who were uninsured or underinsured, but young men are part of the equation too, and they need our services."

Nau grant boost for program

The programs recently got a boost thanks to a $250,000 grant over five years from Baylor College of Medicine board member John L. Nau III and his wife, Bobbie.

"The Baylor Teen Health Clinic's male-only services are a very worthy endeavor," Nau said. "They teach young men to take care of their health and take responsibility – two principles that are key to success in life."

Services offered at the male clinic include sports physicals and treatment of minor illnesses in addition to screenings for sexually transmitted infections and providing information about safe sex. Teens and young men can also get assistance with finding employment, taking the GED, obtaining vocational training and applying for college.

Clinic directors and doctors have taken several steps to get young men through the doors. Certain hours at the clinics are designated for male patients and the surroundings have been revamped to be more inviting for men. "We've asked them about what we should put on the walls and how they want to be addressed, for example," Buzi said. "We want them to feel integrated and welcome at our clinics.

OK for young men to seek health care

"We are trying to change the norms and make it okay for young men to get health care," Buzi said. Since 2003, the clinic has seen a 60 to 70 percent increase in its male patients, she noted.

Young men are appreciative of the services offered. One patient, 18-year-old Israel, said that the clinic is helping him think twice about his mental health and taking care of his body. Another young man, a 25-year-old named Sherman, said that the clinic helps young men make good choices.

Treating young men is still a work in progress, Buzi admitted. "We offer a very valuable service, and we've learned so much about how to work with young men, but we're still learning," she said.

A focus group of male patients was created to gain an understanding of how to effectively target male patients. The group discusses the barriers that prevent young men from seeing a doctor, what health and relationship issues they deal with regularly and how to make it easier for young men to obtain health care. Men are asked about the impact the clinic has had on their lives and if they're more likely to use condoms.

Valuable insight has been gleaned through the focus group, Buzi said. For example, clinic leaders had made the assumption that men wanted to see male health care providers, but after meeting with the focus group, they discovered men would rather see female doctors. They also learned from the focus group that in their advertising, they shouldn't focus too much on sexually transmitted diseases.

"Young men don't want others to find out they're going in to a clinic that is known for treating sexually transmitted infections," Buzi explained.

Male Coalition

The Male Coalition was created to plan events and programs for men and to develop marketing strategies. It is made up of members that have been supportive of young men and the Baylor Teen Health Clinic, including representatives from Houston Endowment, Houston Community College, Catholic Charities, the city of Houston, Houston Area Women's Center, Communities in Schools, the Council on Alcohol and Drugs, First Convenience Bank, the Montrose Clinic and others.

Two annual events are the Male Summit, a large health fair with services and screenings for men, and a three-on-three basketball tournament, which is hosted with a caveat—participants must attend a health fair before they can compete.

"The events are unique because they really focus on men's health issues," said Irene Walker, assistant vice president and community development officer at First Convenience Bank, who is a member of the Male Coalition. Walker noted that the bank is involved in the clinic in other ways, including offering a financial literacy program at the Teen Clinic's Cullen location. Bank representatives talk to young men and their wives or girlfriends about budgeting, saving for the future and other financial topics.

"You can really see that the young men have gotten something out of the programs offered at the Teen Health Clinic. They've really changed from it," Walker said.

Jobing.com relationship helps

A new relationship the clinic has established with Jobing.com as well as other career services are also important components of the health clinic. Fifty percent of the clinic's young male clients are unemployed and not in school, according to Buzi. They've been able to find employment at such places as Oaks Farms and Gallery Furniture through the clinic's career services.

"Our goal," said Smith, "is to offer all of these resources to young men so they have all the opportunities in life that they deserve."