The Wisconsin Youth Health Transition Initiative aims to make the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare easier for youth with special healthcare needs in Wisconsin. This transition typically takes place between the ages of 12 and 26 years. We develop and share healthcare transition resources with families and healthcare providers. We also work with healthcare providers to support best practice transition care for patients with special healthcare needs.
Our Initiative is based out of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center.
Youth Health Transition Initiative Team
Lynn Hrabik
Position title: Project Evaluator
Tim Markle
Position title: Director
Aracely Portillo
Position title: Bilingual Family Support Specialist
Julie Schears
Position title: Senior Outreach Specialist
Our Partners
We partner with several organizations:
- Advocacy and Benefits Counseling (ABC) for Health, Inc. – A public interest law firm connecting Wisconsin families to health care.
- Family Voices of Wisconsin – Family Voices helps families navigate health care and community supports and services by providing training and information.
- Parent to Parent of Wisconsin – Provides support to parents of children with special needs through a one-to-one connection with another parent who has had a similar experience.
- Providers and Teens Communicating about Health (PATCH) – Five PATCH Sites located across the state collaborate with three statewide Youth Advocacy Fellowships to INCLUDE youth in programs and policies for youth.
- Well Badger Resource Center – Provides information and referral services to Wisconsin families.
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Promotes quality of care for children and youth with special health care needs in Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin Integrated Transition Planning Project – Works with stakeholders across Wisconsin to improve transition planning for youth with disabilities.
- Wisconsin Medical Home Initiative – Promotes children’s health and development through its direct support to healthcare professionals on practices of early screening, identification and care coordination.
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 ID/DD, 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.