Resource Centre

Preparing for Adult Life: For Professionals: Growing Up Ready

Developing a Framework for Growing Up Ready

Formal work on transition to adult services began at Bloorview in 2002.  In 2004, a grant was received from RBC Financial that enabled Bloorview to establish the Life Skills & Wellness Institute with the primary focus of developing a framework for Transition to Adulthood. 

The Goal:

To develop an evidence-based, auditable framework for transition planning that utilizes a long-term developmental approach to raising children to share in age appropriate management of their special needs. 

The framework was designed to be:

• Generic for use with a broad range of clients
• Based in developmental theory, and
• Responsive to the needs of children, youth and their families

Best Practice Scan

To develop a framework based on evidence currently available, a best practice scan was completed.  This included a literature review, attendance at conferences and presentations, participation in a transitions listserv and site visits both nationally and abroad.   

Feedback from consumers and families played an integral role in providing us with the expert opinion and outlining the need for specific programs which further enhanced our understanding of best practice. 

The Shared Management Model

The Shared Management Model, developed by Kieckhefer & Trahms in Seattle, was chosen to provide the foundation to the Growing Up Ready framework. 

For young people with disabilities to successfully develop into independent adults, the Shared Management model emphasizes the importance of collaborative relationships between the young person, family and health-care providers. 

Over time as the young person grows and develops, the model expects that the roles of this team will change.  This approach allows for a gradual shift in responsibilities and expectations related to leadership for health care and life decisions as the youth is developmentally ready to take on new roles.   This model supported the need to address transition from a developmental approach and emphasized the importance of both the youth and families during preparation for transition.  

Below you’ll find links to:

• The Growing Up Ready Framework
• Resource & Role Development
  • The LIFEspan Service
• Research & Evaluation Initiatives
• Education
• Resources & Links
• Publications
• Presentations & Posters

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