Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

Transition information and resources for families and YouthSuccessful transition to adult services for youth with special health care needs starts early. Youth and their families should ideally begin planning before the age of 14.

Transition Resources

• Family Involvment in the Transition Process
• Transition Guide - Information to help guide families and youth on the important Transition stages, with resources available in your region of the stat that can help
• NationalDissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - Louisiana specific resource information
• Disability information from the federal government- Connecting the disability community to information and opportunities
• NICHY: Basic information about transition planning- National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
• Washington State Department of Health- Adolescent Health Transition Project: A Resource for Adolescents with special health care needs, chronic illnesses and physical or developmental disabilities
• Family to Family Health Information Centers (F2FHICs)- Information and training to families and youth to help them advocate for better health services and outcomes
• The Youthhood-Informationtohelp youth with special health care needs plan for life after high school
• got transition? - Site serves as the basis for an information exchange about health care transition

Staying Healthy

• National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) - promoting effective parent involvement in secondary education and transition
• Talking to Your Doctor
• Finding a Doctor

Health Insurance Programs

• CSHS Insurance Fact Sheet
• Family Voices- financing health care links
• Healthy & Ready to Work: Choosing a Plan
• Medicaid Purchase Plan - Affordable health coverage for people with disabilities who work
• Medicare Savings Program - Depending on your Medicare program, you may be eligible to receive help with payingMedicare premiums
• Supplemental Security Income - Federal program that provides cash to meet basic needs and in Louisiana provides Medicaid health insurance benefits
• Social Security Disability Insurance Program - Federal program that provides benefits for adults who became disabled before age 22

Employment/Education

• Social Security Administration Ticket to Work Program -An employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work
• Louisiana Vocational Rehabilitation- One-stop career development
• National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
• Youth @ Work English or Spanish (en Espanol)
• Easter Seals Job Training and Employment
• The National Center of Secondary Education and Transition
• Think College - Resources and strategies for transition aged students
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid-U.S. Dept. of Education
• Louisiana Department of Education- Career & Technical Education Programs

Independence

• Find a certified driver rehabilitation specialist
• Louisiana Rehabilitation Services/Independent Living Program
• Centers for Independent Living
• Voter Registration

Advocacy

• Advocacy Center- Provides legal representation, information and referral outreach and training