Across the country, minors’ ability to consent to their health care, particularly their reproductive health care, varies significantly. Expanding “parental rights’ in health and education has been a priority for politically conservative groups and was outlined as a “top-tier” right by the Heritage Foundation in Project 2025. While parental involvement in health care can facilitate access and improve outcomes, it is not always possible for teens to include parents in decisions about sensitive health care decisions. Some teens, particularly those who have unstable home lives, are in foster care, or fear abuse if their parents were to become aware they are seeking this type of care could be more likely to experience challenges in accessing services in states where parental notification or consent is required. Beyond parental involvement, minors face additional challenges accessing transportation, scheduling appointments outside school hours, and paying for the care. This brief examines state consent requirements for minors accessing contraceptive and abortion care, processes for minors to attempt to obtain abortion without parental involvement, and trends in state policy increasing requirements for parental involvement in minors’ health care decisions.
