Health Clinics in Michigan will treat children without parental consent for various medical concerns
Pregnancy testing, prenatal care, mental health care
FLINT, Mich - Under Michigan law MCL22.51 children under the age of 18 will now be able to get pregnancy testing, prenatal care, testing, and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse treatment.
According to Michigan state law children aged 14 and up can access mental health care without parents' or guardians' consent or knowledge.
The following is the paper that is given out to patients at the Mott Children's Health Center in Flint.
Click here to learn more about how the Michigan law is applied when it comes to consent.
Minor still need a parent or guardians permission for a vaccine, mental health medications, inpatient mental health treatment and an abortion, unless a court-approved waiver is obtained.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provided $2.4 million in planning grants to 26 schools across the state of Michigan. This funding is to help expand child and adolescent health centers across the state.
Mott Children's Health Center is one of the 26 organizations that received a part of the funding.
According to WWMT-TV, Jeff House is the Director of Child and Adolescent Services at Mott Children's Health Center.
House says, "for us to open these clinics in the schools, brings the health care right where the children are at and where the kids are at."
House says each clinic will be about 1,000 square feet and open to the community.
"Both clinics will have their own nurse practitioner provider, behavioral health specialists and a medical assistant," says House. "Those are the three core staff, then we will bring other services in as we've identified them. Making sure we partner with the schools and the parents in the school districts."
House tells WMMT the clinic will not be directly connected to the school.
In Michigan, if a child wants to do so, she or she can go to the clinic without their parent's knowledge.
Those in favor of this legislation argue it protects children who may be in abusive situations.
Those on the other side say parents should have the legal right to all health decisions with their children up until age 18.
This law does not allow girls to get an abortion without their parent's permission, but there is a way that can still be done.
“If a parent or the legal guardian is not available or refuses to give his or her consent, or if the minor elects not to seek the consent of a parent or the legal guardian, the minor may petition the probate court… for a waiver of the parental consent requirement” to obtain an abortion. MCL 722.903(2).
One of the student health centers operated by Mott Children's Health Center is located in the Mt. Morris school district.
The school district posted this message on its Facebook page in the spring of 2023:
I want to know what you think.
Do you support children under the age of 18 being allowed to seek certain medical care without the permission of their parent or guardian?