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Minor Consent
In California, individuals under 21 years old may apply for Minor Consent services without their parental or guardian consent or knowledge. The parent’s or guardian’s income and property are NOT counted in the determination of Minor Consent services.
A minor must apply for Minor Consent services; parent(s)/guardian(s) can NOT apply on behalf of their minor child. However, one parent may accompany a minor to apply for Minor Consent services when there is a need or desire to maintain confidentiality with the other parent. The confidentiality requirement is NOT waived in this situation; Notices of Action (NOAs) must NOT be sent to the home address.
Minor Consent applicants should have eligibility determined the same day as their intake interview.
Minor Consent services are sorted by age as follows:
Minor Consent Services
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Under 12 years old |
12 years old and older |
16 years and older |
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Note: Methadone treatment, psychotropic drugs, convulsive therapy, psychosurgery, and sterilization are excluded from the services which a minor may receive without parental consent.
Reminder: Children under 12 years old are NOT eligible for Minor Consent related to drug or alcohol abuse, a sexually transmitted disease or for outpatient mental health care. All County employees are mandated reporters, and must make a referral for Child Protective Services (CPS) if abuse or neglect is suspected.
Important: A minor 16 years of age or older, without parent or guardian consent, may receive Buprenorphine as a replacement narcotic abuse treatment, also known as replacement narcotic therapy (RNT), in a narcotic treatment program (NTP). Also, a licensed physician can utilize their clinical judgement in determining which medication would best serve the individual's needs, and not limit it to just Buprenorphine.
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