Increasing Access to Title X Services for Males Toolkit
Welcome to the Toolkit
Providing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to males is a core component of the Title X Program and the Quality Family Planning Recommendations (QFP). These services include contraceptive services, basic infertility services, preconception health services, sexually transmitted infection services, and related preventive services.
But males of reproductive age from adolescence on up are less likely to go to a Title X clinic for SRH services. Some may be unaware of the range of services available to them; others may think that Title X services are for females only. At the same time, some Title X staff—including front desk staff, medical assistants, and clinical services providers—may feel less comfortable, less prepared, or uncertain about serving male clients.
The goals of this toolkit are to: 1) provide Title X staff with strategies and tools to assess their readiness to engage male clients, and 2) strengthen their project infrastructure and capacity for providing and promoting SRH services to males.
| In this toolkit, “male” refers to people assigned male at birth. It’s important to keep in mind that there are many people whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth. This means that some people who don’t identify as male may be seen for “male” SRH services. |
Use this toolkit as a guide to provide and strengthen male SRH services within your Title X project.
Use the resources in any order or pick and choose the ones that are relevant to your project’s needs and priorities.
Male sexual and reproductive health services are an essential component of Title X services. A first step in strengthening your project’s male services is to conduct an assessment of your project’s readiness to welcome male clients and provide equitable, accessible, and appropriate care to males.
Review Title X Program expectations along with professional guidelines and recommendations for provision of male sexual and reproductive health services.
Assess the extent to which your project:
- Has male-inclusive policies and clinic environment
- Offers staff training focused on male SRH services
- Includes male voices in shaping services
- Has a network of supportive services
- Promotes male SRH services
Increasing Access to Title X Services for Males Agency Assessment
Review project data to determine your baseline number and percentage of male family planning users and compare it to national Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR) data.
Conduct meeting(s) with all staff to discuss assessment findings and next steps.
Increasing Access to Title X Services for Males Staff Discussion Guide
Policies and job descriptions help set the tone for your agency’s culture and norms around engaging and serving male clients. In addition, check-in procedures and a physical clinic environment that are welcoming to and inclusive of males play a role in bringing in and retaining male clients.
Review your agency’s mission statement, policies, and procedures for language inclusive of male clients and SRH services for males.
Family Planning Program Policy and Procedures Preconception Health Screening and Counseling Sample Policy
Review job descriptions for language describing expectations for serving male clients.
Review client check-in procedures and forms to ensure they are welcoming to male clients.
Check waiting and exam room furnishings, signage, posters, and client education materials to ensure they are inclusive of males.
Some Title X staff members—including front desk staff, medical assistants, and clinical services providers—may feel less comfortable and confident welcoming, screening, counseling, and treating male clients. Offering dedicated training to all staff on male-specific SRH services and care helps build staff capacity, skills, and comfort in serving male clients.
Ask staff what training they need to feel more prepared and comfortable serving male clients.
Title X Services for Males Staff Training Needs Survey
Provide foundational training to all staff on the QFP guidelines for male services and on male anatomy and physiology.
Introduction to the Quality Family Planning Recommendations eLearning
Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Adolescent and Young Males Podcast (CTC-SRH)
Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare for MSM Patients Podcast (CTC-SRH)
Introduction to Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology eLearning
Introducing Reproductive Health Services to Male Clients Podcast
Provide training and resources for staff on history taking and counseling of male clients.
Risk Assessment, Education & Counseling for Men in Reproductive Health eLearning
Provide regular updates to all staff about male client numbers and service utilization using your project’s FPAR data.
A key tenet of providing client-centered care is seeking input and feedback on services from the population served. Asking for and acting on suggestions from current and potential clients will help make your clinic more male-friendly, and help staff provide responsive, tailored care.
Make sure there is male representation on your project’s informational and educational (I&E) materials review advisory committee and any other advisory groups your project may have (e.g., community advisory board or youth advisory board).
Title X projects are expected to provide referrals for medical, educational, and social services to clients as appropriate or when requested. By broadening your referral networks to include community partners that provide health and supportive services for males, you can connect male clients to needed services beyond your project’s scope and help achieve access, equity, and quality.
Expand your project’s network of community partners to include:
- Programs that provide behavioral health care and services
- Programs that provide services related to social determinants of health
- Schools, after-school programs, youth recreation programs, and Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) projects
Strengthen policies, procedures, and referral agreements (MOUs) to ensure your project can refer male clients to medical, social, and other services outside your scope.
Active promotion of your project’s male SRH services, using a range of channels, can help bring new male clients through your doors. Male clients often mention the importance of word of mouth in bringing them into the clinic. In addition to the usual outreach methods, “in-reach” may be a particularly effective way to increase service utilization by males. In-reach is when people already involved in your agency, like current female clients or agency staff, encourage males they know to use Title X services.
Promote male SRH services through community events, at male-serving agencies, and to community partners who might refer males to you.
Community Participation, Education, and Project Promotion Plan: Objectives, Activities, and Worksheet
Promote male SRH services at other community sites frequented by males.
Grantee Spotlight in Michigan: Applying An Adaptive Leadership Approach to Increase Male Participation within Title X Services
Conduct outreach to potential male clients.
Male Engagement Social Media Toolkit for Title X Family Planning Agencies
Let female clients know about the SRH services for males available at the clinic, and encourage them to share this information with their male partners, friends, family members, and acquaintances.
Using In-Reach and Outreach to Effectively Promote Male Services Podcast
Support in-reach by clinic staff. For example, coach staff to offer male SRH services when males come in for another reason.
Conversation Starters: Engaging Males in Family Planning Services
This toolkit was supported by the Office of Population Affairs (Grant FPTPA006030). The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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