To help teens and young adults with disabilities transition to adult care, UF Health Jacksonville offers three programs: Jacksonville Health and Transition Services, or JaxHATS; the Program for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, or PAIDD; and Project SEARCH. These programs help patients gain the knowledge and skills they need to gain independence and self-sufficiency.

JaxHATS is a practice that accepts young adults with disabilities, ages 13 – 23. The transition from pediatric to adult health care can be challenging, and JaxHATS helps individuals navigate that adjustment.

The program educates them on medication management, health insurance, vocational rehabilitation opportunities and more. The goal is to equip participants for the next phase of their health care experience with the full support of the clinic and their family members, and to ensure that participants receive fair and adequate health care services.

“We try to serve the whole person and their needs,” said Chanda Jones, senior case coordinator for JaxHATS. “The program looks at all aspects of medical, social and academic needs to assist in a successful transition. Participants are taught how to advocate for themselves by communicating their needs and learning what works best for them.”

For more information on the JaxHATS program, contact Chanda Jones at Chanda.Jones@jax.ufl.edu.

PAIDD provides ongoing primary medical care for adults 19 and up with disabilities in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. Many adults in the program are referrals from JaxHATS.

Patients are provided with monthly clinic visits, where they receive a team-based approach to health care. PAIDD can also assist with any medical equipment, medication or special supply needs.

Melinda Morrison, RN, BSN, is a nurse care coordinator who assists patients with follow-ups once they have been seen for their clinic visit. This can include anything from helping with a referral, checking on medication refills and coordinating the next steps for labs.

Patients in the program are not only able to see primary care doctors but also specialists as needed within the UF Health Jacksonville network, which accepts Medicaid.

Morrison said the doctors and staff work to provide the best care possible, something she believes offers caregivers peace of mind, knowing their loved one is being given quality care.

“We always try to be welcoming because they deserve the same care as everyone else,” Morrison said.

Project SEARCH is a unique nine-month internship that helps young adults with disabilities prepare for the workforce. Through total immersion in the workplace facilities of UF Health Jacksonville, students explore careers, receive classroom instruction and develop job skills through hands-on training in worksite rotations.

The goal of Project SEARCH is to maximize employment outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Interns participate in three internship rotations to explore a variety of career paths. During the program, they work with skill trainers and employment specialists provided by Progressive Abilities Support Services. Tanya Hickey, Project SEARCH instructor at UF Health Jacksonville, enjoys working with the students each year and seeing their growth throughout the time spent together. “We see an increase in their confidence, and it translates to home and everyday life as well,” she said. Once the program is over, instructors believe that interns leave with a new level of assurance in their skills that will help prepare them for future success in pursuing a job or other leadership opportunities.

For more information on Project SEARCH, contact Tanya Hickey at hickeyt@duvalschools.org.