Needs Statement

Skill preparation and planning for healthcare transition for children and youth with special healthcare needs is inadequate. Less than fifty percent of families nationwide indicate that their children with special healthcare needs have received the services necessary to make appropriate transitions to adult healthcare, work, and independence. One of the major hurdles to receiving this care is the lack of a workforce, including physicians, nurses, social workers, mental health providers and all who provide services to youth and young adults with special healthcare needs trained to provide the services necessary to make the healthcare transition. There is a strong need for physicians to have the knowledge and skills to provide the services needed to facilitate a successful transition from pediatric to adult-based care and services.

Because of increased awareness of transitioning to adult-based care, clinicians are required to update their knowledge of the changing strategies for integrating emerging adult-based care into practice.