Quality Standard Details
Transitions from Youth to Adult Health Care Services: Care for Young People Aged 15 to 24 Years
- Publication Date
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2022-February-01
- Status
- Published
- Topic Area
- Transitions in Care
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About 15% to 18% of young people in North America have a chronic health condition. Nearly all of these young people (more than 98%) are expected to reach age 20 and will therefore transition from youth to adult health care services.
The transfer to adult care is a critical and vulnerable time for young people and for their parents and caregivers. While learning to manage their own health care, many young people must also change health care providers and adapt to new services, people, and processes. Many young people with mental health care needs or substance use, and their caregivers, have also reported negative experiences transitioning from child and youth mental health services to community or adult mental health and addictions services.
Successful transitions in health care for young people are critical for their lifelong well-being. Enhancing the transition process from child- and youth-oriented services to adult-oriented services has the potential to positively impact health outcomes and quality of life, the experience for young people and their parents and caregivers, the quality of health care provided, and financial and other costs to young people, parents and caregivers, and the health care system.
This quality standard addresses care for young people aged 15 to 24 years who are transitioning from youth to adult health care services. The scope of this quality standard includes all clinical populations, including young people with disabilities or special health care needs such as those with chronic and/or complex physical, intellectual, or developmental conditions and/or with mental illness and substance use. Where appropriate, it also includes parents and caregivers or other substitute decision-makers.
The scope of this quality standard includes all pediatric and adult health care settings and providers relevant to the transition to adult health care services.
Quality Standard in Brief
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Quality Statement 1: Early Identification and Transition Readiness
Young people who will transition out of child- and youth-oriented services are identified as early as possible and have regular collaborative reviews of transition readiness to support their ongoing preparation needs for transition (and the needs of their parents and/or caregivers).
Quality Statement 2: Information-Sharing and Support
Young people (and their parents and caregivers, where appropriate) are offered developmentally appropriate information and support to meet their needs throughout the transition process. Information-sharing is collaborative, and health care providers actively seek the experience and expertise of the young person (and their parents and caregivers, where appropriate) and incorporate it into the transition planning and shared goal-setting.
Quality Statement 3: Transition Plan
Young people have an individualized transition plan that is co-created, documented, and shared within their circle of care.
Quality Statement 4: Coordinated Transition
Young people have a designated most responsible provider for the transition process. This provider works with the young person (and their parents and caregivers, where appropriate) to coordinate their care and provide support throughout the transition process and until the young person (and their parents and caregivers, where appropriate) confirms that the transition is complete.
Quality Statement 5: Introduction to Adult Services
Young people (and their parents and caregivers, where appropriate) have a meeting with key adult services or other providers before the transfer, to facilitate and maintain continuity of care.
Quality Statement 6: Transfer Completion
Young people remain connected to the designated most responsible provider for their transition and are supported until health care service transitions are complete and confirmed by the young person (and their parents and caregivers, where appropriate).
Supporting Documents
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Patient guide for this quality standard
Know what to ask for in your care
Caregiver guide for this quality standard
Know what to ask for if you are caring for someone
Placemat for this quality standard
A quick-reference resource for clinicians that summarizes the quality standard and includes links to helpful resources and tools
Quality improvement tools and resources for health care professionals, including an action plan template
Supplementary information to support the data collection and measurement process
Additional Resources
If you would like to receive these resources, please send us a message using our contact form:
- Case for improvement (slide deck)
Share why this standard was created and the data behind it, to get the support you need to put it into practice - Technical specifications
See the technical specifications for the indicators within the quality standard - Resources for young people and their caregivers
- Summary of the public feedback we received
- Case for improvement (slide deck)
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
