About

Our Mission

Transition to adulthood can be a very challenging time. For youth with special health care needs, the challenges are often compounded as they navigate from a familiar, family-centred paediatric healthcare setting to a more fragmented, patient-focused adult system. When transition to adult health care is either unplanned or poorly supported, young adults may experience negative health outcomes, costly hospitalizations and inequities in services. The social costs are also of concern with missed opportunities to attend post-secondary education, secure vocational opportunities (Tuchman et al., 2015) and be financially secure to live independently. It is well recognized (Hepburn et al., 2015; McManus et al., 2015; Major et al., 2015; Gorter, Stewart, Woodbury-Smith, 2011) that most adverse outcomes are preventable. 

1. Conduct an Environmental Scan on the features of transition supports for people with special needs in Canada;
2. Expand accreditation standards around transition;
3. Plan a national conference on Transition. 

Hub Members

The Hub currently has 155 members from across Canada. Members include healthcare providers, researchers, young adults with chronic health conditions, and parents/caregivers of youth with chronic health conditions.

Hub Demographic Summary