School-Based Health Center Playbook on Health Care Transition

The School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA) and Got Transition®, in collaboration with an advisory group of school-based health center (SBHC) clinicians, administrators, and young adults, created this SBHC Health Care Transition (HCT) Playbook. The Playbook guides SBHCs and other school staff on assisting students with their preparation for the transition from pediatric care to adult health care.

Check out our recent webinar on this toolkit here.

HCT is the process of moving from a child/family-centered to an adult/patient-centered approach to care. This change involves assisting high school students in managing their own care and helping them navigate care independently. HCT also helps them to understand the differences in privacy and consent that happen during adolescence and adulthood. Finally, HCT helps students find and stay connected to adult care once they leave their SBHC. 

Here is a brief video to explain HCT 101 to students.

  1. Testimonials:
    1. “I felt unprepared to navigate my own health care.” (High school senior)
    2. “I want my students to gain health literacy skills and independence using health care so when they leave school, they will be more likely to find and use adult care.” (SBHC clinician)
  1. National data: Four out of five youth ages 12-17 have NOT received HCT preparation guidance from their health care providers.

  2. Professional recommendations: The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American College of Physicians call for HCT to be part of routine primary, chronic, and behavioral health care, starting early in adolescence and continuing into young adulthood. These organizations suggest the Six Core Elements of HCT, which are used in this Playbook and customized for SBHCs.

  3. Research: Systematic reviews show that with a structured HCT process, statistically significant positive improvements occur in health outcomes, self-care skills, satisfaction with care, and reductions in hospital admissions.

  4. SBHC expertise: SBHCs are well-positioned to offer HCT services, building on their ongoing efforts to provide student-centered care and support students’ active engagement in their own care.

  5. Knowledge of one’s own health and health care is part of the transition to adult care and an essential element of adolescent learning, one that has not previously received the attention it deserves.

Starting an HCT Process

Starting an HCT Process

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HCT Intervention Tools

HCT Intervention Tools

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Examples from the Field

Examples from the Field

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Additional HCT Resources

Additional HCT Resources

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