Confidentiality at the Youth Health Center

At the Daly City Youth Health Center, confidentiality is a priority — not a slogan. What you tell us stays here. Without your permission, we don't share details of your visit with your parents, your school, or anyone else. That applies whether you come in because you think you have an STI, you need birth control, you want to talk about alcohol or drug use, or you just need help sorting out personal stuff like school, family, relationships, or feelings about sex and sexuality.

Wait, seriously?

Yes — seriously. It's not only that we care about you enough to keep your information private; keeping teen health information confidential is actually the law in California. To give you the best care, members of the DCYHC team may discuss your health history with each other — but unless you give permission, your information never leaves the clinic.

There has to be a catch…

Technically, there's one. The same laws that protect your privacy also require clinic staff to report a small number of specific safety situations. We have to tell someone if:

• You are being physically or sexually assaulted or abused
• You are in danger of hurting yourself or someone else
• You are under 16 and having sex with someone 21 or older
• You are 13 or younger and having sex with someone 14 or older

These exceptions exist to protect you, not to get you in trouble. And if a situation like this ever comes up, your provider will explain what's happening and why — nothing happens behind your back.

Do I need a parent's permission to come in?

No — not for confidential services, which include:

• Infectious disease testing and treatment (including STIs and HIV)
• Birth control and emergency contraception
• Pregnancy testing and options counseling
• Mental health counseling related to substance use, sexual or physical assault and abuse, or danger to yourself or others

For general medical care and general mental health care, California requires parental consent if you're under 18. When in doubt, call and ask — (650) 985-7000 — and we'll tell you exactly which category your visit falls into before you come in.

We'd like to thank the Adolescent Health Working Group for their work documenting teens' rights to confidential care in California — you can learn more at ahwg.net.