Transition: Healthcare Resources
Navigating Health Insurance and the Health Care System
The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) provides valuable information and understanding to patients navigating the healthcare system.
PAF’s Education Resource Library offers information on a wide variety of individual health and health insurance-related topics including:
- Finding and Selecting Insurance
- Making the Most of Your Health Insurance
- Engaging with Insurers: Appealing a Denial
- The Insider’s Guide to Drug Formularies & Medication Benefits
The PAF also offers information and resources in Spanish.
PAF is also available by phone on Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at (800) 532-5274.
OutCare aims to be a comprehensive resource for LGBTQ+ healthcare, offering provider and healthcare resource directories.
OutCare’s provider directory provides a list of providers who understand LGBTQ+ needs.
PACER Center Transition and Employment Resources
PACER Center provides information and resources for families of youth with disabilities on transition planning, civil rights, work-based learning, higher education and more.
PACER Center’s Transition Health Plan for Youth with Disabilities and their Families
PACER Center’s Transition Health Plan for Youth with Disabilities and Their Families is designed to help transition-age youth with disabilities and their families assess and plan together the next steps for the youth to take on more responsibility for their own health care.
A portable medical summary is helpful for summarizing your medical information in one to two pages. You can use this summary across healthcare systems, including:
- With the emergency department
- In the transition to adult providers
- With your college campus health services and more
The summary can help provide quick and concise communication with all providers involved in your care as you transition to adulthood.
Preparing For College When You Have Congenital Heart Disease
Going to college is an exciting time filled with new friends and experiences. When you have congenital heart disease (CHD), it can be overwhelming or tempting to put your care on the back burner. It’s very important that you stay in care and are as prepared as possible.
The Adult Congenital Heart Association provides this resource with tips to help you maintain good health while you further your education.
Special Olympics School of Strength
Special Olympics, in partnership with WWE and Special Olympics athletes, provides a free fitness School of Strength video series for athletes in their teens and late 20s. The series features workout videos with varying levels of difficulty in flexibility, strength, balance and endurance exercises to encourage athletes to commit to a lifetime of fitness habits.
The Center for Chronic Illness
The Center for Chronic Illness (CCI) is a nonprofit organization that offers support and education to promote well-being and reduce isolation for people affected by chronic illness. CCI offers adults and teens living with chronic illness a variety of support groups and programs focusing on emotional well-being, health education and community. CCI provides:
- Chronic illness support groups for adults and teens
- Supporting loved ones and parenting children with health challenges support groups
- BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ support groups
- Health education programs
- Resources
For questions, contact CCI at (425) 296-2705 or info@thecenterforchronicillness.org.
Transition QuickGuide: Take Charge of Planning and Managing Your Own Health and Career Goals
The Transition QuickGuide checklist provides information and resources about health insurance coverage, self-care, health care transition, decision-making and career planning and management.
You can visit Got Transition’s website for more information on the process of getting ready for health care as an adult.
For questions, please contact Got Transition at info@GotTransition.org or (202) 769-0486.
Youth, Adolescent and Young Adult Suicide Prevention
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has developed a “Youth, Adolescent and Young Adult Suicide Prevention” webpage to help family members and others prevent suicide by knowing:
- The facts about suicide
- Who is at risk
- Warning signs specific to youth, adolescents and young adults
- Protective factors