More than nine million children in the U.S. have special health care needs*—and as these children reach adulthood, they face an often difficult transition from pediatric care to adult medical care.

Make that challenging shift much easier with this comprehensive, problem-solving guide, the book that finally helps professionals across systems work together on effective health care transition plans. This strategy-filled planning resource helps readers:

• Improve their collaboration with other professionals to ensure coordinated care and services for young people
• Skillfully assess individual medical and health care needs
• Develop workable health care transition plans from start to finish
• Ensure that transition outcomes match the goals and desires of the individual
• Help families locate and select adult medical and health care providers
• Assist young people in securing health-related accommodations in school and at work

Professionals will get everything they need for successful health care transition planning:

• Structured guidelines based on best practices
• Transition health care assessments
• Helpful case studies and resource lists
• Internet links to free planning tools (including printable transition questionnaires, timelines, planning workbooks for families, and videos that show transition planning in action)

With this thorough and readable guide to an often-overlooked aspect of transition planning, professionals from a wide range of settings will come together to ensure effective, coordinated medical care as adolescents reach adulthood.
*National Center for Health Statistics, The National Survey of Children with Special Needs Chartbook, 2001