Reader's Digest Foundation: "Make it Matter" Grants

Deadline: January 1, 2009

To identify people whose stories of giving back inspire others, the
foundation will donate funds to a nonprofit organization associated with a
particular story or cause. Anyone can submit a story about an effective or
inspiring group, which will be published on the website; the nonprofits
selected will receive funds up to $100,000. For more information:
http://www.rd.com/make-your-mark-make-a-difference/make-it-matter/article54800.html

New Fact Sheet on Transitioning Adolescents with Special Needs to Adult Health Care from the National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health (formerly Incenter Strategies)

The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health (formerly Incenter Strategies) is pleased to announce the availability of a new fact sheet on the provision of transition support services in pediatric practices:

Pediatric Perspectives and Practices on Transitioning Adolescents with Special Needs to Adult Health Care  By Margaret McManus, Harriette Fox, Karen O'Connor, Thomas Chapman, Jessie MacKinnon

This fact sheet presents new national data on the transition support services offered in pediatric practices to adolescents with special needs and the barriers affecting their availability. We found that most pediatric practices do not initiate transition planning early in adolescence or offer the transition support services identified as critical for ensuring a smooth transition to adult health care.  Gaps in transition support are due in part to limited staff training; lack of an identified staff person responsible for transition; financial barriers; and anxiety on the part of pediatricians, adolescents, and their parents about planning for their future health care.

New Transition Reports from the PACER Center

Resources from a Transition Institute sponsored by two PACER projects are
now available online. The session handouts and PowerPoint presentations
include links to curricula and tools developed by parent centers to help
connect families and transitioning youth to community and adult service
providers, and promote self-directed transition planning and self-determination. “Journeying Toward Adulthood: Supporting Youth to Build Self-Determined Lives” addressed the transition needs of foster
youth with disabilities, transition and employment for youth with mental health needs, transition planning for inner city youth and their families, postsecondary education issues, and self-employment.
http://tinyurl.com/3laa2b.