Families are at the center of a child’s life and they must be equal partners in decision-making and all aspects of the child’s care. Family-centered care is community-based, coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent, and guides by what is best for each child and family. Families equipped with reliable, accurate information about ways to support their child’s health, education and social development will help them grow into productive adults as defined by their personal, family, and community cultural beliefs and values.

Transition to Adult Health Care

A set of resources to help you understand the transition to adult health care.

Self-determination:

Moving from Pediatric to Adult Providers:

Health Insurance & Service Eligibility (18-21):

Medical Assistance and Operations Memo:

Individualized Health Plans:

Managed Care Options

Managed Care is intended to reduce health care costs while improving the quality of care that is provided through PA’s medicaid program (Medical Assistance) through Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). In PA this is known as HealthChoices.

A set of resources to help you understand managed care options.

PDF  Managed Care OPs Memo

PDF  Summary of the Managed Care Ops Memo

PDF  Stepping Stones OPs Memo

PDF  Data Dictionary

PDF  Resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics on Transition

Fact Sheets

What to know when assisting a family who has a child or youth with special health care needs:

Population Specific Fact Sheet – Child with Special Health Care Needs

This fact sheet is intended to help Navigators* identify what issues are unique to children and youth with special health care needs so that they can assist their families as they make decisions related to their healthcare coverage.

  • * A Navigator is an individual or organization that is trained and able to help families as they look for health coverage through the Marketplace (ACA), including completing enrollment forms.

Health Information in Multiple Languages

Choose your language by using this link.