As I pull into the training facility parking lot, I am early. I do not scramble to gather my materials, but, rather, sit and listen as the song on the radio comes to an end. I am responsible for bringing all the handouts for the day and prefer getting here early to the stress of rushing.

Shoshanna Ehrlich training family planning providers on the laws around adolescent confidentiality issues.

Today's training is entitled "Counseling Adolescents: Confidentiality and Legal Issues," and the core objective is to educate family planning providers about their state's informed consent laws and the regulations regarding reporting child abuse. The training is in Peabody, Massachusetts, and has attracted providers from across the state. With the high number of adolescents receiving care in family planning clinics and the complex nature of the law, this is a topic of great interest. I attended the same training in the past, but am nevertheless enthusiastic to participate again. While some may find compliance issues dry and un-related to services, I see confidentiality and patient rights as essential components of quality care.

As I welcome participants and provide them with the materials for the day, I chat with the trainer, Shoshanna Ehrlich, an attorney with extensive experience in family law, women's legal issues, and minors' reproductive health rights. Ms. Ehrlich has provided several trainings for the Training Center and is highly respected for both her dedication to adolescents' rights and her knowledge of the family planning clinic system.

Once everyone is situated, I introduce myself to the crowd of 40 and give them some background information about JSI and the Region I (New England states) Family Planning Training Center. I've been with JSI almost a year and a half and have coordinated nearly 50 trainings around New England, so I already know many people in the audience.

The Training Center covers a vast array of topics, such as pregnancy diagnosis, breast and pelvic examinations, and STD and HIV screenings. While the number of topics can be overwhelming, the educational component has been the best part of my job at JSI. I have gained an understanding of the family planning system and now find I can address family planning providers' needs. It is rewarding to know that I contribute to providing these essential services to our population's most under served and at-risk individuals. Though coordinating trainings at times is tedious, it is all worthwhile when the day is over.

For this important work in a constantly changing field, I realize that support for providers must be ongoing and encompass more than direct trainings. JSI is a resource for family planning providers. We have a web site with extensive resources, reports, and breaking family planning news (www.famplan.org), and are always available to discuss training ideas. We conduct an ongoing assessment of training needs, identify special initiatives, and occasionally create educational materials. While research and writing are my favorite tasks, without the trainings and collaboration with providers I wouldn't have a true understanding of the family planning system.

After I introduce Shoshanna, I take a seat with the rest of the attendees. I participate throughout the day and help facilitate group discussions and activities. Shoshanna's training goes smoothly and the participants have plenty of questions to keep the conversation rolling. Many of the questions do not have clear-cut answers, so the participants work through many hypothetical cases. Shoshanna's energy and enthusiasm make the topic exciting, understandable, and interesting. I find myself most actively engaged in the trainings on confidentiality and other regulation topics because grasping the legal parameters feels like resolving some sort of complex mind-bender. It is fulfilling to see providers actively engaged, and by the end of the day they are equipped with the knowledge and resources to better provide for their clients

The end of the training goes by in a flurry. Between gathering evaluations and distributing training certificates, I chat with participants. Because the demands on family planning staff are constantly changing, this is often the most effective way to get training ideas. I am pleased with today's content and see that many providers are enthusiastic to take what they learned back to their clinic setting. For some, unanswered questions inspire them to continue their research on adolescent confidentiality issues. Shoshanna's upcoming training next month at our Region I Family Planning annual conference will be a sure hit!

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