"Parenting is the toughest job you'll ever love."

The focus of healthcare transition is to help your teenager to develop the skills needed to take the lead, as much as possible, in his or her own health care. These skills include communicating effectively with health care and other care providers; actively participating in medical decision making; being responsible for self-care; and self-advocacy to get the services and supports they need and deserve. Through this process, teens and young adults will develop a sense of control and responsibility for their own health care.

Web links for Parents and Guardians

Check this short list of highly recommended web sites.

• American Academy of Pediatrics - Medical Home
  The goal of the program is to ensure that children and youth with special needs have a medical home where health care services are accessible, family-centered, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate and culturally-competent.
• American Academy of Pediatrics - Transition
  The physician's role throughout the transition process is as a team leader. While he or she cannot be the sole player throughout transitioning YSHCN, the physician can be a teacher to assist the youth and family in navigating the systems of care.
• Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
  We encourage and advocate opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families, to enhance their quality of life within their communities. We support innovative initiatives that demonstrate new approaches to enhance the independence, productivity, inclusion and self-determination of individuals with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life.
• KidsHealth.ORG (for Parents)
  KidsHealth is the largest and most visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, the award-winning KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date and jargon-free health information they can use.
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation
  General health information written especially for parents of teens. Here you will find information to help you in talking to your teen about questions and issues, dealing with problems and making decisions.

Additional Resources

• Resources for Families and Youth