Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Outcome:
Transition to Adult Services

Community-based Services: Youth with special health care needs will receive the services necessary to make transitions to all aspects of adult life, including adult health care, work, and independence.

Youth with special health care needs, as adults, must be able to expect good health care, employment with benefits, and independence. Appropriate adult health care options must be available in the community and provided within developmentally appropriate settings. Health care services must not only be delivered in a family-centered manner but must also prepare individuals to take charge of their own health care and to lead a productive life as they choose. The broad definition of children with special health care needs includes those who have or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions and require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally1.

Healthy and Ready to Work (HRTW) is a National Center that provides information and connections to health and transition expertise nationwide.  HRTW focuses on understanding systems, access to quality health care, and increasing the involvement of youth.

1 Maternal and Child Health Bureau: Achieving and Measuring Success: A National Agenda for Children with Special Health Care Needs