SSG Online Parent Conference Series 2020: Building Skills for Youth to Access Healthcare

 

Session 2:

Building Skills for Youth to Access Healthcare – Joanna Singleton

Self-advocacy skills are an important aspect of transition and leading a person-directed life. However, healthcare self-advocacy skills are sometimes overlooked. In this session, you will learn from an expert on healthcare transitions on how to build skills for youth with all levels of ability.

BIO: Joanne Singleton is originally from Scotland and came to the United States 24 years ago. She worked a medical social worker for 13 years, beginning as a general medical social worker at Fairbanks Memorial before moving to Chicago in 2004. Before returning to Alaska she worked as a pediatric transplant social worker where she became very interested in adolescent healthcare transition. This interest led to her helping to create a transplant transition clinic, along with resources, for adolescents, their parents, and healthcare providers from both the pediatric and adult settings.

In 2017, Joanne graduated with her Master’s in Public Health and in April 2018 accepted a position as a Public Health Specialist at the State of Alaska in the Section of Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health. Her current roles include Program Manager for the State of Alaska Metabolic Clinic and Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs. Both these roles allow her to continue advocating for adolescents to have opportunities to develop independence skills for managing healthcare needs as they prepare to move from pediatric to adult care.