Meeting the special health care needs of foster children

I know, I know, this is a rather system sucky article that takes faith in the media created reality that the system works for the greater good. In reality, foster children get too much health care, especially in the area of mental health and psych meds.

Meeting the special health care needs of foster children

Foster children often come from an environment in which their health care needs are neglected. It has only been in the last quarter-century that the unique health care needs of foster children have started to receive the attention they deserve. In 1983, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Adoption reported that children in foster care were not likely to receive routine health care, immunizations, dental care, or hearing or vision screening. In 1988, the Child Welfare League of America published guidelines for the care of foster children which included an initial screen for immediate health needs, a comprehensive assessment within one month of entering into foster care, and a developmental and mental health assessment for all children whether or not neglect is perceived as an issue in their previous home. Moreover, in 1994 the AAP Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care recommended a comprehensive and coordinated treatment approach.