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As a natural
part of growing up, adolescents becoming adults must become
responsible for their health care. Taking responsibility for
one's own health care, as developmentally able, is part of becoming
independent from one's family and finding a place in the adult
community.
 However,
adolescents with special health care needs, chronic illnesses,
physical or developmental disabilities may find this difficult.
If leaving a pediatric provider, it may be hard to find an adult
health care provider trained in pediatric conditions or ready
to assume primary responsibility. An adolescent who has been
receiving care from a family practitioner may stay with that
family practitioner but find it easy to continue to function
in a child's role. Either way, young people may be uncomfortable
in the role of an adult health care consumer. And families
may have trouble letting go of the health care services which
are familiar and comfortable.
The Adolescent
Health Transition Project is designed to help smooth the transition
from pediatric to adult health care for adolescents with special
health care needs. This site is a resource for information,
materials, and links to other people with an interest in health
transition issues.
Care Plans for Teens:
The Center for Children with Special Needs has developed three simple, straight forward care planning forms that can help teens share important health information and help them begin managing their own care. These tools were created with teen consultants who have chronic conditions and are available to download:
- Getting to Know Me
- What’s the Plan?
- In Case of Emergency
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