Young people benefit from having access to various types of providers, depending on their circumstances and the types of services, information and counseling needed. These can include doctors, nurses, other health care providers, social workers, counselors, teachers and youth workers, such as peer counselors.
Family members can also be important sources of information.
In some cases, adolescents will approach only their peers for information and services. In others, they will visit a doctor. Program planners need to think about the right kind of provider for the circumstance, in order to increase a young person's receptiveness to counseling and information. These issues are particularly important for unmarried youth but may also be true for young married adults. Different types of providers are best suited to meet specific needs.