CSHCN Transition
What is Health Care Transition?
Transition is a patient-centered, lifelong process. It helps youth with special health care needs and their families prepare for the move from childhood to adulthood. Youth and their families can work in partnership with health care providers. This helps them live as independently as possible as adults.
While transition is unique for each person, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American College of Physicians recommend transition planning begins by age 12.
Texas Transition Toolkit (T3)
The Texas Transition Toolkit is an online tool. It guides patients with special health care needs from pediatric health care to adult health care. The website includes a searchable database of:
- Peer-reviewed articles on health care transition for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN);
- Different clinic and program tools to ease health care transition for CYSHCN; and
- Tools for developing your own health care transition program for CYSHCN.
Texas A&M University School of Public Health developed this tool.
TexasYouth2Adult Transition Tool
Texas Youth2Adult is an online tool. It helps families who have children with special health care needs or other disabilities successfully move from childhood to adulthood. Families can make personalized accounts; find medical, educational, social, financial, and employment resources; and much more. BridgingApps, an Easter Seals Greater Houston program, developed this tool.
Got Transition
Got Transition resources include the Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition. It defines the basic components of health care transition support for providers. These include:
- Establishing a transition policy;
- Tracking progress;
- Administering transition readiness assessments;
- Planning for adult care;
- Transferring care; and
- Integrating into an adult practice.
For Providers: The Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition
Got Transition also has transition planning steps for youth, parents, and educators. The steps can help with a smooth transition to adult health care. Their website includes an interactive set of frequently asked questions with answers provided by experienced youth, young adults, and parents.
For Youth and Families: Got Transition Health Care Transition Resources
Transition Brochures
We publish brochures on the importance of planning for the transition to adulthood. Order our brochures directly through the HHSC Warehouse or call them at 512-250-7162 for assistance with your order. You can also download electronic versions below.
Family Resources
Provider Resources
-
What is Transition? (PDF)
Free Continuing Education (CE) Courses
Texas Health Steps’ online program offers free CE courses for primary care providers and other health professionals. These courses offer updated clinical, regulatory, and best practice guidelines for:
- Preventative health;
- Oral health;
- Mental health; and
- Case management topics including medical home.
Transition services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Course
More Transition Resources
- Navigate Life Texas: Resources for families on various topics including:
- Health care transition;
- Education;
- Careers;
- Housing;
- Legal options; and
- Independent living.
- Self-Care Resources: Got Transition resources for youth, young adults, and parents.
- Pathways to Adulthood: A program to help families envision a good life for their children with disabilities. It provides support, information, and tools for carrying out this vision.
DSHS provides external links as a resource but does not endorse external links. External links may not be accessible for individuals with disabilities. Please email TitleV@dshs.texas.gov or CSHCNSDG@dshs.texas.gov or call 512-776-7373 for more information about Children with Special Health Care Needs, Title V Maternal and Child Health, or maternal and child health in Texas.