There is a significant need to improve the coordination and access to health care services for children in New Jersey’s foster care. According to the latest Department of Children and Families (DCF) child abuse and neglect referral data, the hotline received 6,185 complaints in March 2009, up from 5,104 in February and 5,070 in March of last year. Children in New Jersey’s foster care system have many of the same health care needs as children in similar systems nationwide — well documented by the American Academy of Pediatrics as more complex and pressing than even the needs of the homeless or veterans returning from war.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, New Jersey Chapter (AAP NJ) received a grant from the National American Academy of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Pediatrics and Preventive Services. AAP NJ Chapter, in partnership with its Foundation, the NJ Pediatric Council on Research & Education (PCORE), is working collaboratively with DCF and other key partners, to help ensure that health care needs of children in foster care are met.
Together, AAP NJ and PCORE will provide pediatric leadership and will work with partners to:
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Improve communication and planning between key stakeholders and primary care physicians involved in the provision of health care services to children in foster care, including young adults who experienced foster care, parents/ family members (biological and foster parents). |
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Improve access to coordinated, continuous and quality primary and dental care as we strengthen, support, and build strong medical homes. |
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Align work with pediatric primary care practices with the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect’s efforts. |
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Improve quality of children’s health care through continuing education efforts and developing technical support to providers in Medical Homes serving children in foster care |
The AAP NJ Chapter Committee on Youth in Foster Care and Out of Home Placements is co-chaired by E. Susan “Sooze” Hodgson, MD and Cathy Balance, MD. Dr. Balance is also a Foster Care Parent. For additional information please contact Fran Gallagher, MEd, Executive Director AAP NJ and PCORE, fgallagher@njpcore.org, or Diane Klemm, Director Child Abuse and Neglect Program, dklemm@njpcore.org, Phone: (609)-588-9988.
For more information on the National AAP’s State Systems of Health Care for Children and Youth in Foster Care Chapter Project and other related resources, visit: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/hfca/resources.htm