Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN)
Programs
- Birth Defects Monitoring and Analysis
- Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
- Follow Along Program
- Longitudinal Follow-up for Newborn Screening Conditions
Related Sites
Contact Info
Transitioning to Adult Health Care
Featured
School Health Nurse Special Interest Group
This group, which focuses on special education transition, meets monthly to network and share best practices.
For more information, email health.cyshn@state.mn.us
Person-centered practices team at MDE
Person-centered principles and practices can help assure that people with disabilities have the same rights and responsibilities as other people, including having control over their lives, making their own choices and contributing to the community in a way that makes sense to the person.
What is Health Care Transition?
Navigating adolescence can be challenging by itself. For those with health complexities, it can be even more challenging. In Minnesota, an estimated 120,724 youth (approximately 27.6% of 12–17-year-olds who live in the state) currently navigate through adolescence with a disability, chronic condition, or other special health need (Oswald, Gilles and Cannady).
"Health care transition is the process of changing from a child to an adult model of health care. The goal of transition is to optimize health and assist youth in reaching their full potential. To achieve this goal requires an organized transition process to support youth in acquiring independent health care skills, preparing for an adult model of care” (The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health).
It is important for all youth to be connected to programs, services, activities, and supports that prepare them to manage their physical, mental, and emotional well-being and develop life skills to make informed choices. The ability to manage one's health is a critical factor in success in school and transitioning into employment. This is especially true for youth with life-long health conditions.
Transition for Youth with Special Health Needs
For youth with special health needs, a smooth transition from pediatric to adult-centered health care is essential for healthy adult outcomes. However, according to National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data from 2021-2022, 70% of youth with special health care needs in Minnesota did not receive health care transition preparation services. Minnesota’s Disability Hub offers a toolkit for families, caregivers, and providers to support youth with this transition.
Transition-focused recommendations employing a multi-pronged approach to the planning, transferring and integration into adult care, will optimize short and long-term health outcomes for youth with special health needs.
The benefits of purposeful transition care include:
- Providing youth with ongoing access to primary care and subspecialist care.
- Promoting competence of disease management.
- Fostering independence.
- Developing socially and emotionally through self-advocacy and communication skills.
- Support for long-term health care planning and life goals.