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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Cecily L. Betz, PhD, RN, FAAN, Department of Nursing/ University Center on Disability at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, 1540 E. Alcazar St., CHP 222, Los Angeles, CA 90033, 323-442-1868, cbetz@usc.edu
This presentation is directed to advancing an evidenced based approach to providing transition services to adolescents with special health care needs. A number of health-related barriers have been cited as having a significant impact on adolescents and young adults with special health care needs that prevent them from achieving their goals for adulthood. These barriers include problems with long-term chronic illness management, inability to achieve self-sufficiency with managing health care needs, fear of losing health insurance and a burdensome system of health care. Although there is growing acknowledgement of the important role nurses have in transition planning, nursing practice standards for transition planning are lacking. Pediatric and adolescent specialty physicians have practice standards for transition planning and have provided a number of recommendations (American Academy of Pediatrics; Society of Adolescent Medicine). At the national level, the Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs (DSCSHN) of the Maternal Child Health Bureau has taken the leadership in identifying the important role that all health care professionals, including nurses, have in promoting the transition of youth and young adults with special health care needs. DSCSHN has identified the components of care that should be integrated into transition planning. This discussion will integrate the service recommendations provided by transition experts and policymakers; review and critique the evidence pertaining to these recommendations; and discuss the implications for nursing practice.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescents, Special Needs
Related Web page: cahrtw. org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.