BPS Referral Manual

Adolescent Focused Sexual Health Services

Boston Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital Boston has multiple points of service for adolescents and young adults, between it’s LongwoodHospital campus and it’s affiliate health center at Martha Eliot.

Program name: Boston HAPPENS program at Boston Children’s Hospital

free HIV and STI screening, and comprehensive HIV care and support

Contact person:

  • Administrative:
  • Program Coordinator: Heather Kough (; 617-355-2735)
  • Other: (nurse, social worker, etc.)
  • Program Director: Cathryn Samples MD, MPH ()
  • Clinical Social Worker: Quinn Garahan, LICSW ()

Website:

Accessing your clinic:

  • Transportation routes
  • Our program is located on the 5th floor of 333 Longwood Avenue, a large brick building across the street from the main BCH building.
  • We are a 5-minute walk from the MBTA green line’s D train (Longwood station) and E train (Longwood Medical Area stop). Bus stops are also directly outside our office for the 8, 9, 19, 47, CT2, and CT3; around the corner for the 60 and 65; and a 5-minute walk down Longwood for the 39.
  • Discounted parking is available with validation in the Boston Children’s Hospital garage on Blackfan Street as well, for a flat rate of $9.00 (please note that we cannot validate parking for the garage at 333 Longwood Avenue).
  • Hours (by appointment or walk-in*)
  • Mon, Wed, Fri – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, last appointment 4:30 PM
  • Tue, Thu – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, last appointment 6:30 PM
  • *see walki in and nurse consultation below
  • Brochures to keep in school nurse’s office?
  • Any nurse who would like Boston HAPPENS brochures to display in their office can contact our Program Coordinator Heather Kough at 617-355-2735, to request some. Please include the mailing address and name of the person to whom the brochures should be sent.
  • Insurance coverage
  • Although we are based in an Adolescent clinic, Health education and HIV, STI and Hepatitis C screening and referral services through Boston HAPPENS are not charged to the client nor to their insurance; the Boston HAPPENS counseling and testing program is free and confidential – this means no copays, no bills, and no letters from insurance.
  • Our team of clinicians in the Division of Adolescent Medicine (where we are located) accepts most health insurance plans, so if a client needs to be linked to care or treatment, we can bill the visit to health insurance, or assist the client in getting a referral from or urgent confidential appointment with their PCC .
  • If a Boston HAPPENS client experiences symptoms or has a positive test result and has concerns about being billed for medical care, our team will work with them to make sure these concerns do not become barriers to getting treatment and care.
  • Walk in/ School Nurse Consultation
  • accept referrals from BPS nurses for any patient 13 or older who needs STI treatment, HIV/Hepatitis C/STI testing, HIV care, or other primary/urgent care services at our clinic in the Longwood medical area. These types of visits can be set up by speaking with our Program Coordinator Heather Kough at 617-355-2735, .
  • As well, we are pleased to collaborate with BPS schools to provide on-site HIV/STI health education and testing and other services to youth 13 and older, all of which can be set up by contacting Heather at either the phone number or email address above.
  • If there is an urgent medical issue, such as a teen with a reactive HIV test at a school, our HAPPENS physician, social worker and nurse practitioner are readily available onsite or by beeper, and Ms. Kough or our screeners can arrange an intake visit for newly diagnosed HIV+ youth within 1-7 days.
  • Anything that distinguishes from other programs
  • Free and confidential testing for HIV and Hepatitis C to people 13 and older.
  • Free chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis testing for anyone 13-24 years old as well as all patients of Children’s Hospital who are 13 or older and the partners of clients who have a positive STI test (supported referrals to other nearby testing sites for people >24).
  • Free, comprehensive sexual health education, counseling, and partner services.
  • Free risk reduction supplies like condoms, lube, dental dams, and finger cots, plus brochures and informational materials.
  • Quick and easy referral to on-site care for treatment of STIs, primary and urgent care, women’s health care, family planning, and other medical services.
  • Follow-up testing and medical care/support for young people with a recent HIV exposure who are prescribed post-exposure prophylaxis (“nPEP”) to prevent infection.
  • Information about and access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for youth (particular young MSM and youth with an HIV+ partner) at high risk of HIV exposure
  • Prompt access to specialty HIV care, medical case management services, and mental health support for young people 12-24 years old who have HIV or AIDS or have just tested positive.
  • Help signing up for health insurance and other local resources and benefits.
  • We have the capacity for one-time or regular trainings or workshops about screenijng linked to testing,, and can arrange for community outreach and testing services off-site (arranged through Program Coordinator, at least 3 weeks in advance of the requested date/dates)
  • Other information that you think belongs in a referral guide
  • We are a diverse team with many years of experience helping young people reach their health goals – preventing HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI infection, getting people rapidly into culturally competent care if they are positive, talking with their partners and families about what’s going on with their health, and more.
  • We have Spanish-speaking staff on our team and have access to interpreter services in many other languages including ASL.
  • Our team and the clinic where we’re located are LGBTQ-friendly and welcoming to people of all genders and sexual orientations. Come as you are!
  • Our office is handicap-accessible and welcomes people living with disabilities and mobility impairment.
  • We have evening hours twice a week; even if someone can’t make it to the office during the daytime because of school or work, we’re still here for them.
  • We are located within a busy comprehensive Adolescent Clinic, so there is no stigma associated with visiting our site, and the setting is youth-friendly.
  • Free condoms/lube?
  • Yes – we offer free condoms (latex and non-latex options as well as female condoms), lube, dental dams and other risk reduction supplies.

Associations and affiliations with high schools:

  • Describe any current associations with a school(s) including name of school, nature of collaboration
  • In the spring of 2014, Boston HAPPENS staff provided a workshop about HIV and STIs to ABCD’s OstiguyHigh School students, followed by two HIV/STI testing sessions at the high school. We hope to do more of this work in order to truly meet youth where they are.
  • As well, Boston HAPPENS as a regular presence at WheelockCollege and hopes to expand its reach among Fenway’s schools.
  • Do any of these include Sexual health (describe)?
  • Boston HAPPENS’ HIV/STI workshops typically cover basic information about these infections like how they are transmitted, identified, and treated; strategies for safer sex and other prevention/risk reduction methods; the importance of testing and where/how to get tested; talking with partners about testing and sexual health history. More specific focuses can be addressed as needed.
  • If you have a collaboration or affiliation with a school, would you want to enhance the existing, add another school, or do both?
  • We would like to provide on-site testing services wherever needed for local youth.
  • If you do NOT have an existing affiliation, would you be interested in exploring options for creating one?
  • Yes – please see above. Boston HAPPENS is interested in collaborating further with local schools to offer on-site testing and health education to students. We also have shared our outreach cards with a number of local BPS schools in the Fenway area and are happy to accept referrals from school nurses for students in need of any of the services mentioned above.

Can your program accept referrals for sexual health? Yes – sexual health education and HIV/HCV/STI testing are a major focus of our program, and we can link youth with other services such as STI treatment, GYN care, family planning and contraception management, and more through the BCH Adolescent clinic and the BCH Young Parents Program.

What are your:

  • Insurance roadblocks?
  • Our on-site Resource Coordinator in the clinic helps patients connect with services like health insurance, SSI/SSDI, SNAP, WIC and other benefits.
  • We work closely with any client who needs to receive medical services but does not have insurance, so that this will not be a barrier to accessing much-needed services.
  • We are not funded by DPH to provide free treatment to uninsured youth or youth , but we will provide directly observed therapy for youth we have screened who test positive for STI regardless of insurance, and offer EPT or confidential treatment visits to their partners..
  • Confidentiality issues?
  • Our program is especially sensitive to the privacy and confidentiality of young people, for whom sexual health and sexual activity are often off-limits subjects. We do not charge for the testing and education services offered by Boston HAPPENS, so clients can rest easy knowing they will not get a bill or insurance statement at home.
  • Sharing your Boston HAPPENS test results with your regular medical provider is important and encouraged, but not required; we will not send test results to your outside provider without your written permission.
  • Other?

Does your program have ABCD capacity? ABCD Family Planning services are available through the Adolescent clinic where we are located; any age-eligible (13-24 years old) client of Boston HAPPENS can register as a patient of the clinic to get connected with ABCD Family Planning. (See separate template for Adolescent Young Adult Clinic). Pregnancy testing and some methods of contraception are free to uninsured or confidential clients, but insurance may be billed for Family Planning visits.

Program name: Adolescent and Young Adult Program at Boston Children’s Hospital

Contact person:

  • Administrative:
  • Front desk team, 617-355-7181 – patient registration; scheduling appointments; medication refills; triage to nursing; paging on-call physician (outside business hours through our 24-hour answering service).
  • Other: (nurse, social worker, etc.)
  • Donald Surette, Ambulatory Clinical Supervisor – school nurses can reach Donald through the front desk for assistance scheduling sensitive appointments for any BPS student who is new to our practice (i.e. family planning, pregnancy test, urgent care
  • Nursing line – school nurses can reach the nursing team through the front desk for medical advice concerning any BPS student who is an established patient of our practice

Web Site:

Accessing your clinic:

  • Transportation routes
  • Our program is located on the 5th floor of 333 Longwood Avenue, a large brick building across the street from the main BCH building.
  • We are a 5-minute walk from the MBTA green line’s D train (Longwood station) and E train (Longwood Medical Area stop). Bus stops are also directly outside our office for the 8, 9, 19, 47, CT2, and CT3; around the corner for the 60 and 65; and a 5-minute walk down Longwood for the 39
  • Discounted parking is available with validation in the Boston Children’s Hospital garage on Blackfan Street as well, for a flat rate of $9.00 (please note that we cannot validate parking for the garage at 333 Longwood Avenue).
  • Hours
  • Mon, Wed, Fri – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Tue, Thu – 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
  • Brochures to keep in school nurse’s office?

Available by request (please provide mailing address)

  • Insurance coverage
  • The following list shows common insurances we accept, though it’s up to the patient/subscriber to call and ensure we are in network and the visit will be covered:
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross
  • BMC HealthNet
  • Celti-Care
  • Cigna
  • Fallon Community Health
  • Harvard Pilgrim
  • MassHealth
  • Medicare
  • Neighborhood Health Plan
  • Network Health
  • Tri-Care
  • Tufts
  • United Health Care
  • Our Resource Coordinator and Financial Counselors can help patients sign up for health insurance and other local resources and benefits.
  • If a patient has concerns about confidentiality or being billed for medical care, our team will work with the patient to make sure these things are not barriers to getting treatment and care.
  • Walkins/School Nurse Consultation
  • Yes – we have a large team of providers with flexible scheduling options and can provide same- or next-day appointments to our established patients, along with same-week appointments for new patients. If you are a BPS school nurse with a student who gets his or her medical care in the Adolescent program, nursing triage is available through the front desk to discuss medical questions by phone, and there is always a provider on call after-hours to speak with regarding urgent medical issues.
  • Anything that distinguishes from other programs
  • Comprehensive primary care for adolescents aged 12-25 and consultative care for a wide variety of congenital and acquired disorders and teen issues including abdominal pain, acne, anemia, asthma, bone health problems, chronic fatigue, chronic headaches, complex medical/psychosocial problems, eating disorders, growth and development, hormonal changes, menstrual problems, nutrition, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), puberty, reproductive health problems, smoking cessation, STIs and HIV infection, substance abuse, teen pregnancy and weight problems. We provide routine gynecological care. We provide Accutane for acne.
  • As an ABCD Family Planning site we offer family planning services – free birth control pills, Plan B, and condoms to patients. We counsel patients on all forms of birth control, safe sexual practices, and can refer to the Boston HAPPENS program for free STI and Hepatitis C testing. We also work with our clients to connect them to primary medical care for other services where appropriate to make sure they’re getting the services they request and to avoid fragmented care.
  • IUD and Nexplanon placement is available at the Adolescent Medicine clinic for primary and referral patients.
  • Mental health care is embedded within our program with social work and psychology providers available at all times. Our program also will have a part time psychiatrist starting in fall 2014.
  • The Bone Health Program evaluates children and adolescents who have, or are at risk for, low bone density.
  • The Boston HAPPENS Program provides clinical care to HIV positive and at-risk youth and offers HIV, Hepatitis C and STIcounseling and testing, health education, referral to treatment and care, and risk reduction supplies onsite as well as in the community.
  • The Center for Young Women's Health offers health information to adolescent girls and their parents onsite and through the youngwomenshealth.org website.
  • The Eating Disorders Program provides comprehensive medical and psychological evaluation and treatment to patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia and related eating disorders such as binge eating and vomiting.
  • The PREP Clinic is a weight and lifestyle management program that includes the specialties of medicine, nutrition, and behavioral health.
  • The Reproductive Endocrine Practice provides diagnostic assessment and management of menstrual problems, polycystic ovary syndrome, and low bone density, as well as educational materials and monthly chats.
  • The Adolescent Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) at BCH is committed to providing exceptional care to adolescents who use substances and their families.
  • Other information that you think belongs in a referral guide
  • We have Spanish-speaking staff on our team and have access to interpreter services in many other languages including ASL.
  • Our team and the clinic where we’re located are LGBTQ-friendly and welcoming to people of all genders and sexual orientations.
  • Our office is handicap-accessible and welcomes people living with disabilities and mobility impairment.
  • We have evening hours twice a week; even if you can’t make it to the office during the daytime because of school or work, we’re still here for you.
  • Free condoms/lube?
  • Yes – we offer free condoms (male, female, and latex-free options), lube, dental dams and other risk reduction supplies.

Associations and affiliations with high schools:

  • Describe any current associations with a school(s) including name of school, nature of collaboration: We provide care for residential students at the GermaineLawrenceSchool in Arlington, at MiltonAcademy and at FraminghamStateUniversity and BentleyUniversity. We also provide health care through a team of Adolescent nurse practitioners, to incarcerated Boston youth in residential programs of the Department of Youth Services, Metro Region.
  • Do any of these include Sexual health (describe)? We provide all aspects of care at these sites.
  • If you have a collaboration or affiliation with a school, would you want to enhance the existing, add another school, or do both?
  • If you do NOT have an existing affiliation, would you be interested in exploring options for creating one? Yes, we would be interested in collaborations with a school.

Can your program accept referrals for sexual health? Yes – sexual health education and HIV/Hepatitis C/STI testing are available through our Boston HAPPENS program, and low- or no-cost birth control and Plan B are available through the ABCD Family Planning counselor.