A Clinical Practice Model to Promote Health Equity for Adolescents and Young Adults

Creating a clinical model to promote health equity demands a modern philosophy of care, which requires a different mindset that is distinct from the prevailing healthcare model. Using evidence-based components and guided by best practices in the delivery of care, this chapter outlines critical components that should be considered when designing healthcare programming with adolescents and young adults from non-dominant cultures or backgrounds or with any youth at risk of discrimination or vulnerable to multiple social determinants of health. These components are (1) work on internal bias; (2) cultural tailoring or appropriateness; (3) patient activation; (4) welcoming empathy; (5) navigation skills; (6) cross-sector, integrated care; (7) systems of care; (8) family-centered care; (9) foster identity development (ethnic identity in particular); (10) coach around discrimination and biases; (11) two-level advocacy; and (12) sustainability. Combining these components provides a practical framework for clinicians to promote health equity in clinical practice settings.