Transitioning Youth to Adult Health Care: A Person-Centered and Culturally Competent Approach

Abstract

Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often encounter late preparation for their transition into the adult healthcare system. A number of barriers in both the pediatric and adult healthcare systems prevent youth and their families from accessing and receiving appropriate care. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in the United States, there is new emphasis on the role of the consumer as an active participant and decision-maker in the delivery of healthcare. In turn, there is a need for pediatric and adult healthcare providers to develop competence in person-centered principles and approaches within culturally and linguistically diverse contexts in an effort to facilitate individualized transition services that support the expressed goals, needs, and desires of the youth and young adults they serve. Person-centered planning philosophies can help secure a relevant and meaningful youth to adult life and healthcare transition through increased participatory and self-advocacy actions. By adopting person-centered values and strategies into the six core elements of health care transition practices, providers can begin to eliminate barriers to transition and shift the control of power into the hands of the youth and young adults who receive care.