Purpose:

To share the findings of the four-year HRTW National Resource Center and its partners and collaborators by informing and thanking directors and transition coordinators of state Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs programs, health care providers, social workers, care coordinators, Family to Family Health Information Centers, MCHB grantees, family and youth leaders, workforce developers, and educators about changes in transition programming and preparation during the HRTW initiative - 1996-2010.

One Hour Phone Call

Celebrating the HRTW National Resource Center: Findings, Recommendations and Thanks!

Background: A major goal of the MCHB Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs (DSCSHCN) is to assure that all youth with special health care needs receive the services necessary to transition to all aspects of adulthood, including adult health care, employment and independence. With the emergence of the Healthy & Ready to Work Initiative of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau in 1996, the move to make health a part of transition planning for youth with special health needs and disabilities became a national concept. In 1996, nine demonstration grant projects were funded under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Special Programs of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) in CA, IA, KY, LA, ME, MA, MN, OH, and OR. In 2001, HRTW Phase II Projects were funded as model demonstration programs in AZ, IA, KY, ME, MS, and WI to develop state models of children with special health care needs programs focused on transition outcomes. More information on these projects can be found at http://www.hrtw.org/about_us/projects.html. MCHB funded a transition technical assistance center at the Institute for Child Health Policy at the University of Florida from 1996-2001; the Healthy & Ready to Work National Center at the Academy for Educational Development in Washington, DC, from 2002-2006; and the HRTW National Resource Center at the Maine Children with Special Needs program from 2006-2010. These centers supported HRTW state grantees and others in developing transition policies and strategies. Throughout the HRTW initiative, Shriners Hospitals for Children have collaborated with these national centers.

At the end of the call participants will be able to:

1. Describe the changes in state CYSHCN systems promoting transition preparation.
2. Describe progress in promoting transition from pediatric to adult medical homes.
3. Describe youth leadership development.
4. Discuss promoting involvement in personal decision making in preparation for transitioning to adult health.
5. Discuss HRTW programming with families to help them plan for transition of their teens.
6. Discuss examples of interagency collaboration to promote transition to adult health care with funding, work, and involvement the community.

HRTW National Resource Center Members

• Toni G. Wall, MPA- PI, HRTW National Resource Center www.hrtw.org; Director, Children with Special Health Needs Division of Family Health, Maine Department of Health & Human Services toni.g.wall@maine.gov
• Debbie Gilmer, MEd - Co-Director, HRTW National Resource Center and Director, Center for Self Determination, Health & Policy at the Maine Support Network gilmer@maine.edu
• Patti Hackett, MEd – Co-Director, HRTW National Resource Center, Maine Support Network pattihackett@hrtw.org
• Richard (Rich) C. Antonelli, MD, MS, FAAP, Medical Director, Children’s Hospital Boston Integrated Care Organization (CHICO) richard.antonelli@childrens.harvard.edu
• Kathy Blomquist, RN, PhD - Title V Consultant, HRTW National Resource Center kathyblomquist@hrtw.org
• Ceci Shapland, RN, MSN – Consultant, HRTW National Resource Center cecishapland@hrtw.org
• Patricia (Trish) Thomas, Consultant, HRTW National Resource Center & Partnership Coordinator, Family Voices National Center for Family Professional Partnerships tthomas@familyvoices.org
• Mallory Cyr, BFA - Youth Consultant, HRTW National Resource Center and Integrated Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Maine mallorycyr@hrtw.org
• Theresa Glore, MS - Title V Consultant, HRTW National Resource Center
  theresaglore@hrtw.org
• Betty Presler, ARNP, PhD, Nurse practitioner and care coordinator, Shriners Hospital for Children, Lexington; Consultant, transition and care coordination, Shriners Hospital for Children system bpresler@shrinenet.org
• Patience H. White, MD, FAAP, MA, Chief Public Health Officer, Arthritis Foundation pwhite@arthritis.org
• Liz Depoy, PhD, Professor, University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies Evaluator, HRTW National Resource Center liz.depoy@umit.maine.edu