Welcome to the training on Transition to Adult Care: Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Access denied
Goal
The goal of this module is to equip Texas Health Steps providers and other health care professionals to initiate and implement health care transition planning services for children and youth with chronic health conditions or disabilities at pivotal points in their development, especially as they approach school age, adolescence and adulthood.
Target Audience
Texas Health Steps providers and other interested health care professionals.
Specific Learning Objectives
- Formulate a strategy to address the health, education and social needs of all children and youth, with emphasis on individuals with special health care needs, at key transition points, especially as they approach school age, adolescence and adulthood.
- Differentiate and integrate the functions of health care professionals involved in transition assistance for youth with special health care needs.
- Apply legal requirements and appropriate guidelines for aiding the transition of children and youth with special health care needs as they approach school age, adolescence and adulthood.
This module focuses on providing support for children and youth with chronic health conditions and disabilities to help them and their families make a smooth transition to adult care. The module provides recommendations and resources to help health care providers assist children and their families at key transition points, beginning in early childhood and as children reach school age (age 5 or 6 years). Some recommendations and resources could be beneficial to typically developing children and youth as well.
For the purposes of this module, the term “health care” applies to a wide range of coordinated, multidisciplinary services, including services by pediatricians and other primary care providers. The term “parent” also implies guardians and caregivers.
Note: The module uses the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) definition for children with special health care needs: “Those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.”
Please note this module expires on 7/6/2026.
This module was released on 7/6/2023.
Continuing Medical Education
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Nursing Education
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has awarded 1.00 contact hour(s) of Continuing Nursing Education.
Social Workers
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service under sponsor number CS3065 has been approved by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners to offer continuing education contact hours to social workers. The approved status of The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service expires annually on December 31. The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has awarded 1.00 contact hour(s) of Continuing Social Work Education.
Certificate of Attendance
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program has designated a maximum of 1.00 hour(s) for attendance.
One of the requirements of continuing education is disclosure of the following information to the learner:
- Notice of requirements for successful completion of continuing education activity. To receive continuing education credit the learner must successfully complete the following activities:
- Create a Texas Health Steps account.
- Complete on-line registration process.
- Thoroughly read the content of the module.
- Complete the on-line examination.
- Complete the evaluation.
- Commercial Support.
The THSTEPS Web-based Continuing Education Series has received no commercial support. - Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships.
The THSTEPS Continuing Education Planning Committee and the authors of these modules have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. - Non-Endorsement Statement.
Accredited status does not imply endorsement of any commercial products or services by the Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service; Texas Medical Association; or American Nurse Credentialing Center. - Off-Label Use.
Using a disclosure review process, the THSTEPS Continuing Education Planning Committee has examined documents and has concluded that the authors of these modules have not included content that discusses off-label use (use of products for a purpose other than that for which they were approved by the Food and Drug Administration).
The following are policies and definitions of terms related to continuing education disclosure:
The intent of disclosure is to allow Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service the opportunity to resolve any potential conflicts of interest to assure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its Continuing Education activities.
All faculty, planners, speakers and authors of Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service sponsored activities are expected to disclose to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service any relevant financial, relationships with any commercial or personal interest that produces health care goods or services concerned with the content of an educational presentation. Faculty, planners, speakers and authors must also disclose where there are any other potentially biasing relationships of a professional or personal nature.
Glossary of Terms
Conflict of Interest: Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect Continuing Education content about products or services of a commercial interest with which she/he has a financial relationship or where there are any other potentially biasing relationships of a professional or personal nature.
Commercial Interest: Any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.
Financial Relationships: Those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. Relevant financial relationships would include those within the past 12 months of the person involved in the activity and a spouse or partner. Relevant financial relationships of your spouse or partner are those of which you are aware at the time of this disclosure.
Off Label: Using products for a purpose other than that for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).