What is a patient navigator?
A patient navigator person who helps guide a patient through the healthcare system and serves as a main point of contact if any issues arise before or after the appointment.
Who is the navigator?
Our navigator is a real person who is trained to help you discuss your birth control options and find the care that you need. If you have trouble getting birth control, she can help you come up with solutions.
What does a navigator do?
Our navigator can help you get an appointment, fill a prescription, find a clinician, and help you figure out a plan for a ride. Anything that you need to help get you the healthcare you deserve, we are here to try and figure out a way to help you.
How do I connect with a navigator?
You can set-up a time to chat with them here, email them at bcstudy@iu.edu or call them (317-643-4655). If texting is easier, feel free to text them too.
Do I have to schedule an appointment with a navigator to get help?
No! You can schedule an appointment with our navigator to chat about our services, but you can also text or email us any time with questions. We do our best to respond within one business day!
How do I get birth control?
Our navigator will help you get to a provider who can counsel you on methods and help you decide on the best birth control method for you.
What if I just want to talk about birth control options?
YES—we help with that too. We are here to help answer questions and also to help you get to a clinician that can provide additional counseling and care.
Do I have to participate in research to get help from the navigator?
No! We offer participation in the research study to everyone we help, but it is not required to receive help from our navigator.
Is there an age limit?
We are focused on helping young people access birth control, but we will help anyone who needs our help!
Is the program free?
Getting help from our program and working with the navigator is free. Our work is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. Learn more about IN-Control. Many of our site partners offer free or subsidized appointments if you do not want to use insurance or do not have money to pay for your appointment or birth control method. We can also help you figure out a plan for transportation. While we can’t pay directly for your transportation, we can provide things like bus passes, gas gift cards, and other gift cards to help offset the cost
What if I want to learn about different birth control methods?
Yes—check out the information we have here
What if I had unprotected sex?
If it has been less than 5 days after you have had unprotected sex, take emergency contraception (EC). EC works better the sooner you take it.
Can you help people outside of Indianapolis or Indiana?
We can help anyone in the state of Indiana. We have the most resources in
Indianapolis, but will help any young person in the state that reaches out to us.
What do you mean all services are private?
Everything you talk about will remain between you and the navigator. We will not share your information with parents, insurance companies, or anyone else – not even if they ask for it. At many of our clinical site partners, parental consent is not required. No one can access your information without your consent. Per Indiana law (hyperlink to law), we are required to report certain known or suspected situations to DCS.
Mandatory Reporting in Indiana
IN Control follows all laws around mandatory reporting. For example, mandatory reporting rules state that any individual who is known to be sexually active under age 14 in Indiana must be reported to the DCS hotline. There are also mandatory reporting rules around age differences in sexual partners and when abuse or neglect is suspected. For more information, click here.
