Health issues of children in foster care

Community health nurses provide care to children in foster care. Nurses who understand the health needs of the foster care population are better prepared to assess health status, provide appropriate services and evaluate the care. The health needs of these children are related to the reason for their placement in foster care, the lack of continuity of caregivers, and the health care systems available. The health issues are especially acute in the United States where the number of children in foster care has reached over 500,000. (Leslie et al., 2000) The health issues include chronic physical problems, developmental delays, and especially, mental health issues.