 “The state has an obligation to protect these children, and improvements would make a big difference for all children in state care while adding critical protection for children with special medical needs.”
Heather McCabe
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In recent months, Indiana legislators have been considering improvements to the state’s foster care system, and on the heels of national studies by the Pew Charitable Trust and recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a report tailored for Indiana and focused on the specific issues of children with special medical needs has been released jointly by the IUPUI Center for Urban Policy and the Environment and the William S. and Christine S. Hall Center for Law and Health at the IU School of Law-Indianapolis.
Improvements in State Foster Care System Would Aid Children with Special Needs was authored by Heather McCabe, who describes problems that need attention to protect children in foster care. McCabe, an attorney and social worker, is the assistant director for projects at the Hall Center for Law and Health.
“Most children in Indiana’s foster care system are victims of abuse and neglect, and they are far more likely than other children to have special medical needs,” said McCabe. “The state has an obligation to protect these children, and improvements would make a big difference for all children in state care while adding critical protection for children with special medical needs.”
Currently, the state does not consistently provide prompt medical assessments when a child enters state care, even though the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the child be examined as soon as possible after entering state care. “Immediate medical exams should be automatic so a physician can identify problems that need urgent treatment. Delays can cause irreparable harm to some children,” she said.
McCabe said that studies have shown that children would also benefit from a “medical home”—a doctor assigned to follow the child as long as the child is in state care. The physician would monitor the child’s development and medical needs and connect them with helpful community resources. Researchers say this relationship with a doctor can be vital, especially for children who must move from one foster home to another. She also addresses the issue of medical and educational surrogates, persons authorized to make medical and educational decisions for the child. “It is important that these persons be identified as early in the process as possible to prevent harmful delays for children who need immediate help in these areas.”
Additional training for case workers and foster parents, she said, would help in the detection of developmental problems.
The report is part of a substantial body of work created for leaders and policymakers by the IUPUI Center for Urban Policy and the Environment about critical issues affecting the state. It will be distributed to more than 2,000 policymakers in Indiana, including members of the Indiana General Assembly, and is the first in a series to be produced jointly with other centers and faculty at Indiana and Purdue universities.
For the complete report, call the center at 317-261-3000. The report also may be downloaded by following links at the center’s gateway page:
http://www.urbancenter.iupui.edu/
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