The medical and psychosocial needs of children entering foster care

Child Abuse Negl. 1987;11(1):53-62. doi: 10.1016/0145-2134(87)90033-0.

Abstract

The estimated three to four hundred thousand children in foster care represent a population at high risk for medical and psychosocial problems. Their problems are compounded by the lack of adequate resources available to them while in foster care. This study provided a medical and psychosocial screening of 149 abused and neglected children entering the foster care system. The goal was to generate a profile of the medical and psychosocial needs of children entering the foster care system as a first step toward development of a better health care delivery system. Results indicated that these children have a much greater incidence of chronic medical conditions, are likely to weigh significantly less and be significantly shorter than the general population, require significant amounts of medical sub-specialty care, have a high incidence of developmental delays, and major deficits in adaptive behavior and have a large number of behavioral problems often associated with psychiatric disorders. Results are discussed in terms of the development of a regional model to effectively manage the health care needs of children entering foster care.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Health Services*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Female
  • Foster Home Care*
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Illinois
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male