The Illinois Child Welfare Department implemented a statewide health care system to ensure that children in foster care obtain quality health care by providing each child with a medical home. This study demonstrates that the Medical Home model works for children in foster care providing better health outcomes in higher immunization rates. These…

Although the methamphetamine epidemic in the United States has caught the attention of law enforcement and the media, the needs of the children living in so-called "meth homes" have not yet been addressed. These children are endangered from not only the chemicals involved, but also parental abuse and/or neglect. Little is known, however,…

Recent studies have highlighted the progressively increasing number of children prescribed psychotropic medication, while findings have illustrated significantly greater usage among child welfare-involved children. These findings have raised serious concerns among mental health and child welfare professionals as well as the general public. To…

This paper describes an innovative service delivery model to reduce the number of children entering the child welfare system. Point of Engagement (POE) is a collaborative family- and community-centered approach initiated in Compton, a regional office in Los Angeles County that serves south Los Angeles, a predominantly African American and…

Despite the fact that children in foster care are, perhaps, the most vulnerable children, healthcare for them has been lacking woefully for many years. A growing body of research has documented the need for such care as well as the failure of child welfare agencies to make major improvements in providing healthcare to foster children. Nonetheless,…

Reviews "Health Care Reform and Child Welfare" (DeWoody) on addressing the needs of abused and neglected children; and "Deadly Consequences" (Prothrow-Stith and Weissman) on the violence destroying the teenage population and ways to begin solving the problem. (HTH)

Describes the development and features of Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Service's Child Health System (CHS), a computerized health record application designed to capture information on the health status and medical needs of over 60,000 children. Includes a brief overview of the 2,688 cases entered into the system during the…

Discusses problems with pediatric care of foster children that were identified in a survey of pediatricians in Connecticut. Reviews recommendations of the Health Advisory Committee to the Connecticut Department of Children and Youth Services. Describes several solutions that have already been implemented in Connecticut. (BB)

Children in foster care have lower health status than do their peers and limited access to health care. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services developed HealthWorks, a separate primary care preferred provider system for children in foster care. This study compared claims data for children in HealthWorks with children not enrolled…

This article describes standardized instruments designed to measure physical and emotional health outcomes among children for a statewide implementation of community- and school-based family resource centers. It includes descriptive and psychometric information, strengths and weaknesses of two measures of physical well-being, and four measures of…

Examines the economic policies that led to the institutionalization of large numbers of children under inhuman conditions during the Ceausescu regime in Romania. Also examines the efforts of the present Romanian government, national and international organizations, and private groups to place such children with adoptive families both in Romania…

Updates a 10-year medical overview on HIV/AIDS written for a Child Welfare League of America publication. Covers HIV transmission, diagnosis and treatment of HIV in infants, maternal treatment and testing, and advances and challenges, including new drug therapies. Concludes with recommendations on systems of care for affected families. (EV)

Describes current living conditions of children in the United States, and argues that few tax dollars are spent on children. Discusses current policy on assisting low-income families with children, and suggests the establishment of national minimums for children in the areas of income support, education, and health care. (MM)

Describes the Health Passport Project, a program that uses a centralized computer database for maintaining and distributing health and education records for children in foster care in San Diego, California. Includes a content analysis of the health information stored in the first 431 "passports." (MM)

Discusses the complex issues involved in decision making concerning the treatment of catastrophically ill children. Through several examples of actual cases, posits that decisions should be arrived at by considering the child's best interests rather than the prolongation of life or principles of social utility. (MDM)