Health Care For Foster Kids: Fix The System, Save A Child

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 30 Sep 2009 - 22:00 PDT

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Editorial

Canada needs an integrated approach to meet the complex needs of children in foster care, write Dr. Paul Hebert, Editor-in-Chief, CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), and Dr. Noni MacDonald, Public Health Editor in a CMAJ editorial.

Many children in foster care have experienced negative, often traumatic events such as physical and sexual abuse and multiple moves from homes that can lead to depression, behavioural and relationship difficulties. These children need consistent, long-term medical and mental health care to help them cope with the aftermath of abuse and neglect, yet they do not get it. The very moves that are contributing to their situation interrupt treatment and follow up. As well, foster parents usually have only partial details of a child's medical history.

"Outcomes of children and youth in foster care are too often tragic," write Dr. Hebert and Dr. Macdonald. "We end up paying a substantial price, primarily in the loss of productive young lives, but also, for many, in the use of the criminal justice system and the need for long-term mental and physical health care."

They urge Canada to create an integrated approach to deliver programs and services that encompasses the varied needs of children in care. This approach should include better collaboration, a portable health record accessible by all providers, multidisciplinary clinics that meet the complex needs of these children, and a system to monitor supportive care of foster children.

Source
Canadian Medical Association Journal

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