Factors Affecting Access to Services: C.A.R

The Characteristics of individuals (SCLAGED)  may affect access to services for Youths: 

First language spoken may impact access for youths, as some services may only be available in certain languages, creating language barriers. Similar to this is culture where there may be cultural restrictions that prevent youths accessing particular services. 

A youth's socioeconomic status may affect what services they access. Services that incur significant costs and are further distances away may inhibit this group's access as they have less disposable income available and may be embarassed to access. The type of disability of a youth may further limit their access to services, possibly due to physical restrictions, their mental state or lowered self-esteem. The age of a youth may impact on the choice in services available due to physical location, eligibility and possibly lack of confidence for younger youths.  Gender may be another factor that affects the type of service, as some are gender based. Many young males are also reluctant to access service to support their needs. Level of education may impact youths in terms of awareness and exposure of services due to difficulties either understanding or accessing the information. 

Aspects of the service

How available the services are within the community includes aspects of the service such as location, opening hours, confidentiality, and staffing. 

Resources necessary to support access 

The resources necessary to support youths' access to services include time, money, energy, knowledge. Resources such as knowledge may affect access to service as there may be a lack of understanding or awareness that certain services exist, especially free services. Many youths often lack the energy or motivation to investigate services. Some could also be tired physically from trying to manage their multiple roles in study, work and family. Money becomes an issue when accessing some services for youth due to extensive costs of access or they may not be able to access certain subsidised services as they or thgeir parents earn too much. Time also links with motivation, but some youths are too busy enjoying leisure time or working hard to have a life balance so they simply feel that they do not have the time to invest in accessing appropriate services. 

Student activity:

Choose a variety of different service available for youth and explain how resources can be used to support access to the service for young people. Draw a table in your books similar to the two examples below and complete the table for resources and aspects of the service