Moving out: transition policies for youth with serious emotional disabilities

Moving from the children's service system to the adult service system is a difficult process for youth with serious emotional disabilities. The fragmentation of services and entrance criteria-based age makes this transition difficult. This article examines how state-level policy can facilitate the orderly planning and delivery of transition services. Several types of transition policies currently in use by states are described, and nine important components of transition policy are identified. These components represent content which needs to be present in order for state level policy to adequately address the needs of transitioning adolescents with serious emotional disabilities. Mental health planners, state administrators and policy analysts can play an important role in initiating, reviewing, and coordinating state policy regarding transition.