A survey of referral activities of agencies serving adolescents

Abstract

The referral activities of 373 agencies (38.4% of the sample originally polled) are presented with regard to health care, educational, and social services for teenagers residing in a midwestern metropolitan area. Approximately 66% of the responding agencies receive referrals from without and 87% make referrals to other organizations, with counseling and psychiatry, family planning, and general medical care being the most commonly sought services. Social service agencies had the highest volume of referrals and hospitals the lowest. The results of the survey are discussed in terms of the official recommendations made for coordinated services for teenagers, predicted cutbacks in preventive services, and the special needs of adolescents.