Transition to Adult Care

Our goal is to support youth with special health care needs and their families or caregivers to gain the confidence, skills and knowledge to be ready to enter the adult health-care system.

About

For youth
For families
For health care providers Services and resources A-Z

Where do I start?

Download and print your own Transition Timeline Brochure.
Identify your strengths, and what you need to work on:

Youth: take the Youth Quiz.
Parents: complete the Parent/Family Checklist.
Not sure about an item? Click on it, and it will open an interactive Activity Card with tips, videos, and resources to help you find the information you need.

Print copies and bring your questions to your next clinic appointment. Ask to discuss transition to adult care planning and your needs with your health-care providers.

Page Viewer

Learn more

Children and youth diagnosed with a chronic condition and/or disability in BC are most often referred to a pediatrician in the community and then referred for pediatric sub-specialty care at BC Children’s Hospital or another care site.

In most cases the child, parents and family members visit BC Children's Hospital (or another pediatric clinic) at least once a year, more commonly 2-3 times per year, for health monitoring, teaching and support.

Children may have any number of conditions: diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, epilepsy, kidney disease, arthritis, or more complex conditions like neuromuscular diseases, cystic fibrosis, cardiac diseases.

At 18 years of age, they 'age-out' of a number of services that have supported them since childhood: school,home care, travel benefits, among others. Additionally, they also transition from pediatric care into the adult system.

The ON TRAC model and tools were developed to help youth, families, and care providers prepare for the changes that occur in adulthood, and the differences to expect as they transfer between health-care system.

Families and youth can explore the Youth Toolkit and Family Toolkit to find the information and resources they need as they enter into this next phase.

Who we are

What we do

Your care providers will work with you to prepare you for the adult health care system. Our main areas of work include:

1. Clinical support

We work with health care professionals in the pediatric and adult systems to help ensure a smooth transfer from pediatric to adult health care services, including preparation and transfer documentation tools.

2. Youth and family engagement

We work with youth and families to ensure that their voices are heard during their transition.

3. Education and knowledge translation

We can support workshops and presentations for youth, families, and health-care providers to increase awareness, skills, and competencies about transition issues.

4. Research and evaluation

We contribute to practice- and evidence-based knowledge by publishing research and working with other programs evaluating transition efforts.

Tab Heading

Provincial Health Services Authority