[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › [Family and community nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/community/) › Youth-friendly health services for adolescents and young people # Youth-friendly health services for adolescents and young people - Safe practice Friendly services make it easy for adolescents and young people to seek care: confidential, respectful, at times they can come and without judgement. Updated Nov 12, 2026 ## Key points - SSAAJ model: people aged 10 to 29 years. - Three forms: differentiated consultation, friendly unit and friendly centre. - Five components: access and timeliness, trained staff, administrative procedures, a wide range of services, and social participation. - Confidentiality and privacy are what make a service friendly. - In the route's adolescent consultation, part of the visit is held alone with the adolescent. ## What it is Youth-friendly health services adapt the way care is given to the needs of adolescents and young people. Colombia's model of Servicios de Salud Amigables para Adolescentes y Jóvenes (SSAAJ), developed by the Ministry with UNFPA, covers people aged 10 to 29 with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health, and can take three forms: a differentiated consultation, a friendly unit or a friendly centre. WHO's global standards for adolescent health services, updated in 2025 with nine standards, stress adolescent participation, a rights-based and non-discriminatory approach, competent staff, family and community engagement, welcoming settings and data for quality improvement. ## What it requires - Staff trained and sensitised to care for adolescents and young people. - Confidentiality and a private, non-judgemental setting. - Short waits and opening hours that fit school and work. - Services without discrimination of any kind. - Participation of adolescents and young people in planning and oversight of the service. ## Components - Differentiated consultation: a trained professional within the daily consultation schedule, with a referral network. - Friendly unit: spaces for adolescents and young people inside a health facility, with differentiated hours and signage. - Friendly centre: an independent space only for adolescents and young people, with services and group, cultural and sports activities. ## How it is applied (and why) - Welcome the adolescent by name and explain how confidentiality works and its limits — trust is the entry ticket. - If a parent comes, explain that part of the visit will be alone with the adolescent — this recognises autonomy. - Use a private room and a calm, non-judgemental tone — adolescents talk when they do not feel judged. - Ask about home, school, activities, substance use, sexuality, mood and safety with open questions — finds the real reasons for the visit. - Give clear information on sexual and reproductive health, mental health and the services available — supports informed decisions. - Agree on a care plan with the adolescent and, when appropriate, with the family — shared plans are more likely to be followed. - Offer flexible appointments, outreach or group activities — reduces barriers for those who study or work. - Record and follow up, respecting confidentiality, and refer when needed — continuity within a network of services. ## In nursing practice - Many visits concern everyday life and sexual and reproductive health, not illness. - Signs of violence, abuse or suicidal ideas override confidentiality: protect the adolescent and activate the institutional route. - Groups of young people can help design and oversee the service (youth social oversight). - Friendly services link with the adolescent and youth consultations of the health promotion and maintenance route. ## Common mistakes - Talking only to the parent and not to the adolescent. - Lecturing or moralising instead of listening. - Breaking confidentiality without a protection reason. - Opening hours that clash with school, so adolescents never come. - Using posters and leaflets without asking young people what they need. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What age range does Colombia's youth-friendly services model (SSAAJ) cover? People aged 10 to 29 years. ## What are the three forms of a youth-friendly health service in Colombia? A differentiated consultation, a friendly unit and a friendly centre. ## Why is part of the adolescent consultation held without the parent? To recognise the adolescent's autonomy and allow them to talk freely in a private, non-judgemental setting. ## How many standards do WHO's updated global standards for adolescent health services (2025) include? Nine standards. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/nursing/youth-friendly-health-services-for-adolescents-and-young-people/) ## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia - [Adolescence: development and the HEADSSS interview](https://durgical.com/en/behavioral-science/adolescence-development-and-the-headsss-interview/) ## Connections ## Related 2 - [The life-course approach and its stages in Colombian health policy](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-life-course-approach-and-its-stages-in-colombian-health-policy/) - [Colombia's health promotion and maintenance route (Res. 3280 de 2018) from the nursing side](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/colombia-s-health-promotion-and-maintenance-route-from-the-nursing-side/) [← All of nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order. Sources: [Servicios de salud amigables para adolescentes y jóvenes: un modelo para adecuar las respuestas de los servicios de salud (2.ª ed.)](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/Documentos%20y%20Publicaciones/Modelo%20de%20servicios%20de%20salud%20amigables%20para%20adolescentes%20y%20j%C3%B3venes.pdf) (Ministerio de la Protección Social de Colombia y UNFPA (MinSalud), 2008); [Global standards for quality health care services for adolescents](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240114012) (World Health Organization, 2025); [Resolución 3280 de 2018: atención en salud por medicina general o familiar y enfermería para la adolescencia](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/sites/rid/Lists/BibliotecaDigital/RIDE/DE/DIJ/resolucion-3280-de-2018.pdf) (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, Colombia, 2018). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/nursing/youth-friendly-health-services-for-adolescents-and-young-people/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/youth-friendly-health-services-for-adolescents-and-young-people/