I thought group members might be interested in the following information.

The Institute for Child Health Policy (ICHP) recently completed work
on a booklet for youth and families entitled "Envisioning My Future: A
Young Person's Guide to Health Care Transition".

ICHP also developed a set of three health care transition workbooks
for youth and young adults & families. The workbooks (for ages 12-14;
15-17; and 18+) are designed to help families and youth think about
future goals, to identify things that ayoung person is doing currently
to be independent in health care; and help figure out what needs to be
done to assure that the young person's future transition from
pediatric to adult-oriented health care goes smoothly.

While these workbooks can be done independently, by a young person and
family, it may be best for families, youth and providers to work
together to identify current strengths and needs; identify priorities;
and develop and implement a plan for addressing current and future needs.

These materials are available on the health care transitions web site.
Any comments you might have on these materials are most appreciated.

To access these materials, go to:

http://hctransitions.ichp.edu/resources.html

Comments and suggestions about these materials are welcome - as well
as any suggestions you have for improving the process of moving from
pediatric to adult care; lessons you have learned that you would like
to share with teens and other young adults with spina bifida - and
ideas you have for improving the adult health care system.

Thanks\
John Reiss
Institute for Child Health Policy
jgr@...