REFERENCE POINTS: Health Resources for Transitioning Youth

THE 2008 FACT SHEET ON HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND UTILIZATION: ADOLESCENTS AND YOUTH ADULTS This fact sheet contains the most recent available data on health insurance coverage, preventive and other health services, and unmet need among adolescents and young adults ages 12-24, including those with special health care needs. The fact sheet, produced by the National Adolescent Health Information Center at the University of California, San Francisco, with support from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, highlights trends and presents data by age, gender, income level, and race and ethnicity. . The fact sheet is available at . http://nahic.ucsf.edu//downloads/HCAU2008.pdf A list of other NAHIC-produced briefs and fact sheets is available at http://nahic.ucsf.edu/index.php/data/article/briefs_fact_sheets
From: Monday Morning in Washington, DC

HEALTH COVERAGE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR: TALKING ABOUT THE CENSUS NUMBERS From Families USA, this 4-page document provides context to recent Census data. Although the numbers of uninsured declined between 2006 and 2007, the numbers are still considerably higher than in 2000. People and children of color remain more likely to lack health insurance than their non-Hispanic White peers. http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/minority-health-and-the-census-numbers.pdf

TALKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
This 18 minute video is designed to teach adolescents and young adults (AYAs) how to communicate more effectively with health care providers so that professionals understand their concerns, answer their questions and provide the information and supports they need to be more in charge of their own health. This video was developed by the Institute for Child Health Policy. The video can be viewed at http://video.ichp.ufl.edu/twyd.php

THIS IS HEALTH CARE TRANSITION
Developed by the Institute for Child Health Policy at the University of FL, this video is intended to help youth and young adults with chronic health conditions and their families be better prepared for adulthood, especially the move from pediatric to adult-oriented health care. This video is available on the web at: http://video.ichp.ufl.edu/tihct.php ICHP has developed an online brochure that describes and provides access to all of their health care transition product and is available at: http://hctransitions.ichp.ufl.edu/hct-promo/

MY HEALTH, MY CHOICE, MY RESPONSIBILITY: A TRAINING PROGRAM ON HEALTH SELF-ADVOCACY
My Health, My Choice, My Responsibility is an 8-week training program written to promote health advocacy among adults with developmental disabilities. Each of its eight sessions covers a health area and focuses on making healthy decisions on a daily basis. The program also includes three tools designed to help participants take control of their health, including a tool for preparing for a medical appointment, record keeping of health needs and medical history, and a plan containing health goals that are developed over the course of the seminar. For more information go to http://www.wihd.org/matpub/matpub_index.html
From: the October 2008 NCPAD Monthly Newsletter

SINCE YOU'RE NOT A KID ANYMORE: IT'S TIME TO BE MORE IN CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH CARE This 31 page booklet, also developed with funding from CMS, is a health care transition guide for teens in middle school. It includes information and activities designed to help young teens with special health care needs take a more active role in their own health care. It is available for download as a full color PDF document. The booklet is available, as a PDF at:
http://hctransitions.ichp.ufl.edu/pdfs/cms_synaka_lowres_07.pdf
From: Health Care Transition for Youth with Special Needs Digest [transition@mchenet.ichp.ufl.edu]

IT'S TIME TO TRANSITION! A WORKBOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR MEDICAL PROVIDERS This workbook was developed to help organize the medical transition process into a smooth and successful move from pediatric focused to adult focused health care. The workbook is available on the web as a PDF at:http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ps/hcp/transition/workbook.pdf

BUILD YOUR OWN CARE NOTEBOOK WEB SITE
A major role of a care notebook is to help parents/caregivers maintain an ongoing record of their child's care, services, providers, and notes. This notebook is a great tool in empowering families to become the experts on their child's care. It is also a way to maintain the lines of communication between the many providers and services that help care for a child and their family and can serve as a helpful tool for transitioning youth. For more information, go to http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/tools/care_notebook.html