Welcome to the training on Teen Consent and Confidentiality provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
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Goal
The goal of this module is to equip Texas Health Steps medical and dental providers and other interested health care professionals to apply legal requirements, best practices and ethical guidelines on consent and confidentiality for adolescent patients.
Target Audience
Texas Health Steps providers and other interested health care professionals.
Specific Learning Objectives
- Specify how and why to establish confidentiality and seek consent or assent when caring for adolescent patients.
- Determine who can give consent for health care for minors, including identifying when teens may consent on their own.
- Apply ethical principles and Texas law when youths engage in risky behaviors, request services that conflict with the provider’s personal values or exhibit signs of abuse or neglect.
- Integrate culturally effective techniques into clinical encounters with adolescents.
Defining terms used in this module: The terms teen, young person, youth and adolescent are used interchangeably to refer to a person in the transition years between childhood and adulthood. Child refers to a person ages 1 through 10 years. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), youth ages 11 through 14 years are in early adolescence, ages 15 through 17 years are in middle adolescence, and ages 18 through 21 are in late adolescence even though youth ages 18 years and older are legally adults. Under Texas law, a minor is a person 17 years or younger who has never been married or declared an adult by a court (emancipated). The term parent includes legal guardians. Consult this module’s Appendix of Resources for links to federal and state laws and policies referenced in the module.
Please note this module expires on 5/28/2029.
This module was released on 5/28/2026.
Continuing Medical Education (Ethics Accredited)
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This activity has been designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program for 1.25 credit(s) of education in medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.
Nursing Continuing Professional Development
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program has designated a maximum of 1.25 contact hour(s) of Nursing Continuing Professional Development.
Social Workers (Ethics Accredited)
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program has designated a maximum of 1.25 contact hour(s) for Social Workers.
This activity has been designated by The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program for 1.25 hour(s) in professional ethics.
Certificate of Attendance
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program has designated a maximum of 1.25 hour(s) for attendance.
Successful completion of this continuing education activity includes:
- Participating in 100% of the activity.
- Successful completion of a post-test; must score 75% or higher.
- Completion and submission of participant evaluation.
Commercial Support & Disclosure of Conflict of Interest
This event received no commercial support.
The speakers and Planning Committee for this event have disclosed no financial interests.
Non-Endorsement Statement & Off Label Use
Accredited status does not imply endorsement of any commercial products or services by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Medical Association, or American Nurses Credentialing Center.