MSI’s framework for advancing adolescent access

Key points

• Young people need to be able to make decisions about their bodies, relationships and sexual health.
• Access to adolescent-friendly information and services allows young people to shape their own futures – whether that’s choosing education, a career, working towards financial independence, or starting a family when they’re ready.
• At MSI Reproductive Choices, we’ve worked hard to reach adolescents with the services they need. Our Advancing Adolescent Access framework is a practical guide to help others do the same.

Every young person deserves the chance to decide what comes next

Adolescence is a time of possibility. Young people are imagining their futures, pursuing their education, and discovering who they want to be. But without access to accurate information and access to reproductive healthcare services, an unintended pregnancy can put those plans at risk.

The ability to decide if and when to have children can change the course of a young person’s life

It can help girls stay in school, pursue careers, and build financial independence. It gives young people more control over their futures, and helps create healthier, more prosperous communities.

At MSI Reproductive Choices, we’ve spent years learning how to reach young people with the care they need. We know that simply making contraception available isn’t enough. Young people may face judgment from adults, laws that restrict their access to care, costs they can’t afford, or health services that don’t understand their needs.

So what works?

We’ve developed approaches that engage parents and communities, make healthcare welcoming and affordable for young people, and address the policies that stand in their way. We also involve young people themselves, because the best solutions start with understanding their experiences.

Our new Advancing Adolescent Access Framework assembles all we’ve learned into a practical roadmap for working alongside adolescents to deliver choice.