OBJECTIVES: To describe the health status and to illustrate the usefulness of an enhanced primary care model for children in foster care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a clinical cohort via chart review. SETTING: Foster Care Program of the Center for the Vulnerable Child at the Children's Hospital, Oakland, Calif. SUBJECTS: Two hundred thirteen children in foster care assessed between August 1988 and June 1991. INTERVENTIONS: None. METHODS: A multidisciplinary assessment protocol was used to collect health and social histories and to conduct developmental, emotional, and behavioral assessments and medical examinations. Cross-tabulations were used to compare distributions of conditions and characteristics of the population, including the reasons for, timing of, and number of placements. RESULTS: The population was largely African-American (83.4%), with a mean age of approximately 3 years. At least 78% of children came from homes where drug use was a primary reason for placement. A history of maternal drug use was present in 94% of infants. The number of placements ranged from one to eight (mean, 2.0). Placement changes were common. Over 20% of children had growth abnormalities, 30% had neurologic abnormalities, and 16% had asthma. Fewer than 20% of children had no medical conditions, while 28.8% had three or more conditions. Over 80% of children had developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems. Emotional, relational, and behavioral problems were more common in children first placed after 2 years of age and in those with a greater number of placements (chi 2 = 12.6, P < .05). CONCLUSION: This comprehensive assessment of children in foster care revealed higher rates of chronic multiple medical and mental health problems than previously reported.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the health status and to illustrate the usefulness of an enhanced primary care model for children in foster care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a clinical cohort via chart review. SETTING: Foster Care Program of the Center for the Vulnerable Child at the Children's Hospital, Oakland, Calif. SUBJECTS: Two hundred thirteen children in foster care assessed between August 1988 and June 1991. INTERVENTIONS: None. METHODS: A multidisciplinary assessment protocol was used to collect health and social histories and to conduct developmental, emotional, and behavioral assessments and medical examinations. Cross-tabulations were used to compare distributions of conditions and characteristics of the population, including the reasons for, timing of, and number of placements. RESULTS: The population was largely African-American (83.4%), with a mean age of approximately 3 years. At least 78% of children came from homes where drug use was a primary reason for placement. A history of maternal drug use was present in 94% of infants. The number of placements ranged from one to eight (mean, 2.0). Placement changes were common. Over 20% of children had growth abnormalities, 30% had neurologic abnormalities, and 16% had asthma. Fewer than 20% of children had no medical conditions, while 28.8% had three or more conditions. Over 80% of children had developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems. Emotional, relational, and behavioral problems were more common in children first placed after 2 years of age and in those with a greater number of placements (chi 2 = 12.6, P < .05). CONCLUSION: This comprehensive assessment of children in foster care revealed higher rates of chronic multiple medical and mental health problems than previously reported.
Authors: Françoise S Maheu; Mary Dozier; Amanda E Guyer; Darcy Mandell; Elizabeth Peloso; Kaitlin Poeth; Jessica Jenness; Jennifer Y F Lau; John P Ackerman; Daniel S Pine; Monique Ernst Journal: Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci Date: 2010-03 Impact factor: 3.282
Authors: Judith W Dexheimer; Mary V Greiner; Sarah J Beal; Darius Johnson; Andrea Kachelmeyer; Lisa M Vaughn Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2019-08-01 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Laurel K Leslie; Michael S Hurlburt; John Landsverk; Jennifer A Rolls; Patricia A Wood; Kelly J Kelleher Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2003-07 Impact factor: 7.124