Rachel Mak, Staff Photographer

A proposed bill in the Connecticut state legislature seeks to address disparities in access to contraceptive care for minors.

Currently, state law allows minors to receive emergency medical treatment, HIV testing, mental health services, abortions and STI testing without parental consent. Minors can often access these services at school-based health centers. It is technically assumed that minors can access contraceptive care without parental permission. However, House Bill 7213 would codify this provision into law.

“Young people should not have to face the risk of unwanted pregnancies, HIV or untreated STIs simply because they’re afraid to speak to their parents to access contraceptive care,” said Melanie Wilde-Lane, executive director of the Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers. “If a teenager knows they may have an STI but fears telling their parents about their sexual activity, it can lead to a situation where the condition goes untreated — putting their health and even their life at risk.”

Various healthcare providers last month highlighted their support of the bill. Wilde-Lane believes that the government has been prioritizing intervention over prevention. The association views contraceptive care as an effective means to reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions in the first place. 

Planned Parenthood prioritizes this bill due to the changing federal landscape. Its leaders believe that Connecticut has an obligation to protect access to contraceptives in a time when the federal government is infringing on those rights.

“Although young people in Connecticut for decades have been able to obtain contraceptive care, one of the things that we are concerned about are the potential changes at the federal level,” Gretchen Raffa, chief policy and advocacy officer at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, said. “[These federal actions] could directly threaten access for minors to confidentiality or to consent to contraceptive care on their own.”

According to Wilde-Lane, at school-based health centers, access to contraceptive care is not that simple. When a student comes in to request products like condoms, they would be put on a schedule. Next, they would talk with the therapist on call to explore why the minor would want to ask for or need the product. They would ask questions such as “Have you talked to your parents?” and “Is there a partner involved?” Therapists would also try to explain to students about the various physical, mental and emotional side effects of intimate behavior.

Most students are not able to access contraceptive care on the first visit. Most are sent home with a little homework as they explore the questions and make sure they still want contraceptive care. If kids below the age of 13 request any form of contraceptive care, the Department of Child and Family Services is contacted.

If the proposed bill is passed, students would not only be able to access contraceptive care at a school-based health center, but also at other medical facilities across the state, such as clinics and hospitals, all without requiring parental consent or notification. Their privacy would be fully protected, including safeguards against disclosure through billing or medical records. 

“Healthcare professionals who work with young people, especially children, often consider their full history during assessments,” Bonnie Roswig, senior staff attorney at the Center for Children’s Advocacy, said in the committee hearing on the bill. “These spaces allow for early detection of potential issues, ensuring that children who are at risk can be identified, reported and protected.”

According to Wilde-Lane, this bill is not meant to hinder relationships between parents and children. 

The bill is intended to allow minors to receive contraceptive care without parental involvement, particularly in situations where the parents might harm the child if they knew about the treatment. Even though parents might desire to talk with their children about contraceptive care and sexual health, many parents aren’t or don’t know how to.

Wilde-Lane notes that having this kind of support system that can provide them with initial counseling can even encourage children to talk with their parents about sexual health earlier rather than later. Therapists can also help familiarize children with telling their parents about their situation. 

Though minors can access contraceptive care at some medical facilities currently, there are several barriers. 

Cost is a major issue, as many contraceptives are expensive without insurance or parental help. Additionally, fear of parental discovery and limited clinic access can discourage minors from seeking care, making it harder for them to obtain the contraception they need. This bill will allow minors to bypass the barriers and access the care if deemed necessary. 

According to Roswig, this bill does not force doctors to provide care they’re uncomfortable with.

“If a doctor isn’t comfortable prescribing something, they’re not ethically obligated to do so. That ultimately falls under the professional and ethical responsibilities of physicians,” she said.

Wilde-Lane believes that it is very likely that the bill will become law, and it has already been passed in the House. She hopes that this bill is a step toward meaningful change, providing much-needed protections and support for communities.

Planned Parenthood is located at 345 Whitney Ave.