IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to a change in funding at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Title V Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program the Wisconsin Youth Health Transition Initiative (or YHTI) program will be ending its statewide work as of December 30, 2025. This includes activities such as the Learning Communities, Technical Assistance to Medical Systems, Transition Transmission, workshops (Transition Talks Tuesdays, Transition Care Mapping, Build Your Bridge, Bridging the Gap, etc), and consultation with transition partners to incorporate healthcare transition into other transition efforts. The Waisman Center is pursuing ways to continue this important systems change work, and welcomes partnerships to continue helping youth (especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities) become healthy, successful, self-determined adults. Please contact healthtransitionwi@waisman.wisc.edu with questions or opportunities.
The Youth Health Transition Learning Community provides networking opportunities for anyone who wants to learn more about transition and how to move transition forward in their organization. This statewide group comes together virtually to share ideas and best practices around youth health transition. Recordings and Presentation Slides for previous Learning Communities are available at https://healthtransitionwi.org/health-transition-learning-community/
These webinars are for :
- medical providers
- parents and caregivers
- service providers
- school staff
- others interested in supporting youth as they transition from adolescent to adult health care.
Health Care Transition for I/DD ECHO
Health care transition (HCT) is the process of preparing youth and young adults for the transition to a healthy adulthood. For many, this means moving from a pediatric to an adult model of health care. A lack of HCT preparation guidance is associated with gaps in care, worsening health conditions, dissatisfaction with care, and increased rates of hospitalization.
Previous Sessions and Topics (Mar-May 2024)
- Health Care Transition Basics (3/8/2024)
- Supported Decision-Making and Other Decision-Making Options (3/22/2024)
- Strategies for Promoting Self-Advocate Independence with Health Care (4/12/2024)
- Sexuality and Reproductive Health (4/26/2024)
- Assessing Transition Readiness & Making a Plan (5/10/2024)
- Communication and Technology (5/24/2024)
Previous Sessions and Topics(Jan-May 2025)
- Working with Schools on Health Care Transition
(1/14/25) - Payment for Health Care Transition Services (3/11/25)
- Role of Families from Different Cultures in Health Care Transition (4/8/25)
- Mental Health Barriers and Options during the Transition to Adult Services (5/13/25)
- Transition Services for those with Medical Complexity (6/10/25)
Integrated Transition Planning
We actively participate in the Wisconsin Integrated Transition Planning Project, also based out of the UW Waisman Center.
This Project brings together self advocates, family members, and people who work in education, employment, and healthcare. They work together to improve and simplify the transition planning process by promoting integrated transition planning.
Integrated transition planning is when youth with disabilities, their family members and service providers thoughtfully map out and prepare for the youth’s life as an adult. It integrates planning for the youth’s education, work, and healthcare to achieve their goals as an adult. Ideally, this planning occurs throughout childhood with more focused planning as the child becomes a teen.