This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Horwitz, S. M.
Right arrow Articles by Simms, M. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Horwitz, S. M.
Right arrow Articles by Simms, M. D.
Related Collections
Right arrow Office Practice

PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 1 July 2000, pp. 59-66

Specialized Assessments for Children in Foster Care

Received Mar 8, 1999; accepted Sep 10, 1999.

Sarah McCue Horwitz*, Dagger , §, Pamela OwensDagger , and Mark D. Simmsparallel

From the * Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and Dagger  Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; § Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and parallel  Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Objective.  To investigate the differences in health problems identified and health services received by children newly entering foster care who participated in a comprehensive multidisciplinary program, compared with children newly entering foster care who received customary community-based services.

Methods.  Using a 2-group quasiexperimental design, 120 young children entering foster care were enrolled in a multidisciplinary intervention program (n = 62) or were followed by customary care providers (n = 58). An interview with the foster parent; a complete medical examination; and a battery of developmental, psychological, speech/language, and motor assessments were completed for each child at baseline. Children in both groups participated in follow-up assessments at 6 and 12 months.

Results.  No significant differences between the 2 groups existed in medical, educational, developmental, or mental health problems identified by foster mothers. However, children in the intervention group were more likely to be identified with developmental (56.5% vs 8.6%) and mental health problems (37.1% vs 13.8%) by providers than children in the comparison group. Children in the intervention group were also more likely to be referred for health services at baseline (71.0% vs 43.1%) and receive follow-up care at 6 and 12 months of age than children in the comparison group.

Conclusions.  Findings indicate that community providers identify medical and educational needs but do not recognize developmental and mental health needs of young children newly entering foster care. The discrepancies in the number of recommended services and follow-up care between the 2 groups make a case for the establishment of specialized services for children entering out-of-home care.  Key words:  foster care, health services.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 PediatricsHome page
J. S. Steele and K. F. Buchi
Medical and Mental Health of Children Entering the Utah Foster Care System
Pediatrics, September 1, 2008; 122(3): e703 - e709.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Topics in Early Childhood Special EducationHome page
T. M. Derrington and J. A. Lippitt
State-Level Impact of Mandated Referrals From Child Welfare to Part C Early Intervention
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, August 1, 2008; 28(2): 90 - 98.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Topics in Early Childhood Special EducationHome page
S. A. Rosenberg and E. G. Smith
Rates of Part C Eligibility for Young Children Investigated by Child Welfare
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, August 1, 2008; 28(2): 68 - 74.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Topics in Early Childhood Special EducationHome page
A. C. Stahmer, D. Thorp Sutton, L. Fox, and L. K. Leslie
State Part C Agency Practices and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, August 1, 2008; 28(2): 99 - 108.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
J. M. Zito, D. J. Safer, D. Sai, J. F. Gardner, D. Thomas, P. Coombes, M. Dubowski, and M. Mendez-Lewis
Psychotropic Medication Patterns Among Youth in Foster Care
Pediatrics, January 1, 2008; 121(1): e157 - e163.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Trop PediatrHome page
N. Muslu, A. B. Turhan, G. Eskandari, A. Atici, O. G. Ozturk, S. Kul, and U. Atik
The Frequency of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 Promoter Region (TA)7 Polymorphism in Newborns and it's Relation with Jaundice
J Trop Pediatr, February 1, 2007; 53(1): 64 - 68.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Research on Social Work PracticeHome page
P. A. Craven and R. E. Lee
Therapeutic Interventions for Foster Children: A Systematic Research Synthesis
Research on Social Work Practice, May 1, 2006; 16(3): 287 - 304.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
D. M. Rubin, E. A. Alessandrini, C. Feudtner, A. R. Localio, and T. Hadley
Placement Changes and Emergency Department Visits in the First Year of Foster Care
Pediatrics, September 1, 2004; 114(3): e354 - e360.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of Early InterventionHome page
C. C. Robinson and S. A. Rosenberg
Child Welfare Referrals to Part C
Journal of Early Intervention, July 1, 2004; 26(4): 284 - 291.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
L. K. Leslie, M. S. Hurlburt, J. Landsverk, J. A. Rolls, P. A. Wood, and K. J. Kelleher
Comprehensive Assessments for Children Entering Foster Care: A National Perspective
Pediatrics, July 1, 2003; 112(1): 134 - 142.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
D. L. DiGiuseppe and D. A. Christakis
Continuity of Care for Children in Foster Care
Pediatrics, March 1, 2003; 111(3): e208 - 213.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
J. M. Zito, D. J. Safer, S. dosReis, J. F. Gardner, L. Magder, K. Soeken, M. Boles, F. Lynch, and M. A. Riddle
Psychotropic Practice Patterns for Youth: A 10-Year Perspective
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, January 1, 2003; 157(1): 17 - 25.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
M. D. Simms, H. Dubowitz, and M. A. Szilagyi
Health Care Needs of Children in the Foster Care System
Pediatrics, October 1, 2000; 106(4): 909 - 918.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]