Medical assessment of children going into emergency out-of-home placement

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Annually, approximately 500,000 children and infants enter out-of-home care in the US.
• There is a growing emphasis on the healthcare needs of children in placement.
• Children in out-of-home placement often have unique medical and developmental needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a successful 5-year model for providing medical assessments to children entering emergency out-of-home placement.
• To highlight the importance of interagency collaboration in child welfare.
• To demonstrate the utility of a computerized database in managing health information for this population.

Main Methods:

• A community partnership model involving social services, law enforcement, and a hospital.
• Standardized medical assessments for children upon entering emergency out-of-home placement.
• Development and utilization of a computerized database to track child demographics and medical findings.

Main Results:

• The model has been operational for five years, serving a significant number of children.
• The partnership facilitated timely medical evaluations for vulnerable children.
• The database provided valuable insights into the health profiles of children in placement.

Conclusions:

• The described model effectively addresses the healthcare needs of children in emergency out-of-home placement.
• Community partnerships are crucial for delivering comprehensive care to children in the child welfare system.
• A centralized, computerized system enhances the continuity of care and supports data-driven improvements.