Tool Kit  Health Transition Toolkit

“Health transition” is the time of life when a young adult starts taking more responsibility for their own health and switches from child health care to adult health care. Young adults with special health needs are young adults who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition. They often need more health services or support than most other young adults. A supported health transition helps young adults with special health needs move from child health care to adult care with better coordinated services, self‑management, and continuity of care.

This toolkit is created for young adults with special health needs to help them during health transition. Some young adults may need support using this toolkit. This toolkit can also be used by their families, caregivers, providers, and their support systems to learn about transition and help young adults. Massachusetts has a variety of prominent communities with shared experiences that can offer emotional support and connection to additional useful resources and networks.  Health transition is a journey—use the resources that best fit your current needs and come back to other toolkit chapters as your needs change.

For information about language access, additional support, and a disclaimer, please see the Appendix.

Cultural acknowledgement

The Department of Public Health acknowledges that health beliefs and practices vary across different people. You might use this toolkit differently depending on your unique community, culture, identities, or special health needs. This toolkit is intended to be inclusive and respectful of the ways young adults and their families manage their health and health decisions, whether privately or with support of their communities.