Health Care Utilization by Children Entering Foster Care

Abstract

This is a study of the referral completion status of a cohort of children entering foster care, and the ability of selected factors to explain the completion of those referrals. It was found that although the children had multiple health problems their needs continued to go unmet. Two variables that accounted for 9% of the variance in referral completion were identified. The implications of these findings are discussed and issues for additional investigations are suggested.At the end of 1990 there were an estimated 407,000 children in foster care in the United States (Tatara, 1991). Nationally, approximately 75°Io of children placed in foster care are there primarily because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1988).Because of circumstances precipitating placement into foster care (e.g., maltreatment) and social characteristics such as poverty, children coming into care are at high risk for medical and psychosocial problems (

Foster Family Characteristics and Behavioral and Emotional Problems of Foster Children: A Narrative Review*

“…Hiring freezes, low pay, and difficult working conditions have led to caseworker shortages, less experienced and educated caseworkers, high caseloads, and high burnout and turnover rates among caseworkers (Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, 1997; Department of Health and Human Services, National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1995; General Accounting Office, 1995). Also, a large proportion of foster children with behavioral and emotional problems who are referred for mental health services to treat urgent needs do not receive such services (Blumberg et al, 1996; Risley‐Curtiss, Combs‐Orme, Chernoff, & Heisler, 1996). This proportion of children with behavioral and emotional problems might increase in the near future because of recent efforts to move children quickly through the foster care system.…”

Health, Developmental and Support Needs of Vulnerable Children – Comparing Children in Foster Care and Children in Need

“…Our hypothesis is that there is little or no difference in the health and service needs of these children, whether they are living in FC or with their parents. While there have been strong advocates for timely 'multidisciplinary' and 'comprehensive' paediatric assessments for children in FC (Horwitz et al, 2000;Risley-Curtiss and Stites, 2007), similar advocacy efforts for other children experiencing psychosocial and environment adversities have not been consistent. The authors of a recent study from the US of children actively in welfare argue for careful assessment of health and developmental problems, whether residing in their home of origin, with kin, or with foster parents; having found no difference in children's needs depending on the placement type (Schneiderman et al, 2011).…”

Taking culture seriously: Can we improve the developmental health and well‐being of Australian Aboriginal children in out‐of‐home care?

“…There is now a wealth of national and international literature documenting the health and developmental needs of these children (Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care, ; Jee, Tonniges, & Szilagyi, ; Nathanson & Tzioumi, ; Simms, Dubowitz, & Szilagyi, ; Woods, Farineau, & McWey, ). Children and young people in care also face a range of barriers to access to health, education, and welfare services and are less likely to access preventive health services such as immunization compared with the general population (Horwitz, Owens, & Simms, ; Risley‐Curtiss & Stites, ; Williams et al, ). In Australia, indigenous or Aboriginal children are over‐represented in child welfare, with the rate of indigenous children in care almost 10 times the rate for nonindigenous children, with Aboriginal children constituting over one third of all children placed in out‐of‐home care in 2013–2014 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, ).…”

“…international literature documenting the health and developmental needs of these children (Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care, 2000;Jee, Tonniges, & Szilagyi, 2008;Nathanson & Tzioumi, 2007;Simms, Dubowitz, & Szilagyi, 2000;Woods, Farineau, & McWey, 2013). Children and young people in care also face a range of barriers to access to health, education, and welfare services and are less likely to access preventive health services such as immunization compared with the general population (Horwitz, Owens, & Simms, 2000;Risley-Curtiss & Stites, 2007;Williams et al, 2001). In Health and Welfare, 2011;Freemantle et al, 2006;Priest, Mackean, Davis, Briggs, & Waters, 2009).…”