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Tools & Checklists

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Toolkits, Charts & Forms

  • A Family Toolkit: Pediatric-to-Adult Health Care Transition (gottransition.org) (PDF Document 2.2 MB)
    Toolkit developed to help families during pediatric-to-adult health care transition, and includes resources for both parents/caregivers and youth/young adults. These tools can be used to better prepare youth and families for the transition to adult care.
  • Preparing for the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care: Parent Guide (PDF Document 285 KB)
    Got Transition guide for parents to plan for the transition to adult care for their children, and advises start as early as 12 to involve the pediatrician in the process and gradually move to an adult doctor between ages 14 and 18. It also lists questions that parent's can ask doctors if their child has special needs.
  • Planning to Move from Pediatric to Adult Care? (PDF Document 256 KB)
    Got Transition comparison chart of Pediatric and Adult Care. It describes changes in the health care setting and lists tips for the move to adult health care.
  • Medical ID - Smartphones (PDF Document 1.9 MB)
    Medical ID is a standard Medical ID that could be used for teens and young adults to take an active role in their health care. It is available for Apple or Android phone and keeps records of medications, doctors and emergency contacts. While this is not a complete record, it is a good basic summary with links to medical records. It is designed for the cell phone owner.
  • Care Notebook
  • Healthy Transitions Coping Wellness Cards
    These coping cards are designed to help parents, caregivers, school, and community members, to provide coping strategies for young people who are experiencing emotional distress. They include coping statements which youth can use when feeling overwhelmed, anxious, fearful, panicked, and/or other emotions. Downloadable in English, Portuguese, and Spanish Provided by RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Division of Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, Feb 2022

Guardianship & Supported Decision-Making

  • Guardianship Fact Sheet (PDF Document 227 KB)
    Disability Law Center fact sheet that defines guardianship, different types of guardianship, who an be a guardian, and deciding if a guardian is needed. It provides details about what a guardian can do, the process of creating a guardianship, and the patient's rights under a guardianship.
  • Alternatives to Guardianship Fact Sheet (PDF Document 208 KB)
    Disability Law Center sheet that discusses options for help with decision making without a guardian. These decisions include medical, financial, education, and housing along with additional resources to discuss other assistance and when it may be needed.
  • Supported Decision-Making Resource Library (ACLU)
    American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) page that provides links to general information about supported decision-making, including guardianship laws by state and programs to implement the support. The page includes a video library, tools for implementing supported decision-making, and legal information.

Finding Adult Providers

  • Got Transition Radio Episode 4 Preparing for a Dr's Visit!
    YouTube recording of Got Transition Radio's episode focusing on the preparation for a visit to the doctor for youth transitioning to adult care. Hosts Eileen Forlenza and Mallory Cyr discuss strategies and steps that can be taken ahead of time to make the most of the visit, and how to begin important transition dialogue and skill building for youth.
  • Finding Adult Providers (Illinois Healthcare Transition Project) (PDF Document 384 KB)
    Information from Illinois Healthcare Transition Project/AAP with helpful information about how to find adult providers, and what questions to ask a new doctor and staff to decide on the new provider. This includes encouraging young adults to find the new doctor while still being seen by the current one, and questions to make sure the new provider will meet all needs.
  • For Youth and Young Adults: Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Transitioning to Adult Health Care (PDF Document 114 KB)
    Got Transition and Family Voices guide to help youth and young adults transition to adult health care. The list includes questions for the adolescent years, before making the first appointment with a new adult doctor, and to prepare for the first visit with the new doctor.
  • Turning 18: What it Means for Your Health (PDF Document 122 KB)
    Got Transition document that discusses legal differences regarding medical information and communication with doctors when a patient turns 18. Provides information about HIPAA, sharing medical information and decisions, and resources for supporting managing health decisions.

Health Insurance and SSI

Authors

Compiler: Information compiled by Medical Home Portal authors and staff
Content Last Updated: 10/2021
Funding: Thank you to the Utah Medical Home Young Adult Advisory Committee for reviewing this section.
Authoring history
2021: revision: Medical Home TeamCA
2014: update: Alfred N. Romeo, RN, PhDR
2005: first version: Robin PrattCA; Barbara Ward, RN BSCA; Gina Pola-MoneyCA; Joyce DolcourtCA; Kristine FergusonCA; Teresa Such-Neibar, DOCA; Lynn Foxx PeaseCA; Helen PostCA; Roz WelchCA
AAuthor; CAContributing Author; SASenior Author; RReviewer