Addressing the developmental and mental health needs of young children in foster care
- PMID: 15827467
- PMCID: PMC1519416
- DOI: 10.1097/00004703-200504000-00011
Addressing the developmental and mental health needs of young children in foster care
Abstract
Research over the past two decades has consistently documented the high rates of young children entering the child protective services/child welfare system with developmental and mental health problems. There is an emerging evidence base for the role of early intervention services in improving outcomes for children with developmental and mental health problems in the general population that heavily relies on accurate and appropriate screening and assessment practices. The Child Welfare League of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have all published guidelines concerning the importance of comprehensive assessments and appropriate referral to early intervention services for children entering out-of-home care. Recent federal legislation (P.L. 108-36) calls for increased collaboration between child welfare and public agencies to address the developmental and mental health needs of young children in foster care. This paper provides a framework for health, developmental, and mental health professionals seeking to partner with child welfare to develop and implement programs addressing these critical issues.
Similar articles
-
Comprehensive assessments for children entering foster care: a national perspective.Pediatrics. 2003 Jul;112(1 Pt 1):134-42. doi: 10.1542/peds.112.1.134. Pediatrics. 2003. PMID: 12837879 Free PMC article.
-
Identifying the psychological needs of foster children.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2001 Winter;32(2):125-35. doi: 10.1023/a:1012246723182. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2001. PMID: 11758878
-
Interventions and practice models for improving health and psychosocial outcomes of children and young people in out-of-home care: protocol for a systematic review.BMJ Open. 2019 Sep 11;9(9):e031362. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031362. BMJ Open. 2019. PMID: 31511293 Free PMC article.
-
American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Early Childhood and Adoption and Dependent Care. Developmental issues for young children in foster care.Pediatrics. 2000 Nov;106(5):1145-50. Pediatrics. 2000. PMID: 11061791 Review.
-
Foster child health and development: implications for primary care.Pediatr Nurs. 2003 Jan-Feb;29(1):39-41, 44-6. Pediatr Nurs. 2003. PMID: 12630505 Review.
Cited by
-
Children's Executive Function in a CPS-Involved Sample: Effects of Cumulative Adversity and Specific Types of Adversity.Child Youth Serv Rev. 2016 Dec;71:184-190. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.11.008. Epub 2016 Nov 9. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2016. PMID: 28626280 Free PMC article.
-
Psychosocial Needs of Children in Foster Care and the Impact of Sexual Abuse.J Child Fam Stud. 2018;27(4):1324-1335. doi: 10.1007/s10826-017-0970-7. Epub 2017 Nov 30. J Child Fam Stud. 2018. PMID: 29576728 Free PMC article.
-
Children in nonparental care: health and social risks.Pediatr Res. 2016 Jan;79(1-2):184-90. doi: 10.1038/pr.2015.198. Epub 2015 Oct 14. Pediatr Res. 2016. PMID: 26466078 Review.
-
Facilitating Access to Care for Children With Complex Health Needs Through Low-Barrier Place-Based Intake Processes: Lessons From the RICHER Social Pediatric Model.J Prim Care Community Health. 2024 Jan-Dec;15:21501319241273284. doi: 10.1177/21501319241273284. J Prim Care Community Health. 2024. PMID: 39155671 Free PMC article.
-
Comprehensive Health Assessment for Children in Out-of-Home Care: An Exploratory Study of Service Needs and Mental Health in a Norwegian Population.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2025 Aug;56(4):958-970. doi: 10.1007/s10578-023-01619-5. Epub 2023 Oct 12. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2025. PMID: 37828418 Free PMC article.
References
-
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. AFCARS Report—Current Estimates as of June 2001. Available at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/afcars/june2001.htm Accessed February 15, 2002.
-
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. AFCARS Report—Current Estimates as of August 2002. Available at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/afcars/report7.htm Accessed July 14, 2003.
-
- Dawson G, Hessl D, Frey K. Social influences of early developing biological and behavioral systems related to risk for affective disorder. Dev Psychopathol. 1994;6:759–779.
-
- Carnegie Taskforce on Meeting the Needs of Young Children. Starting Points: Meeting the Needs of Our Youngest Children New York, NY: Carnegie Corporation of New York; 1994.
-
- California Center for Health Improvement. Children and Youth Survey Sacramento, CA: The Field Institute; 1997.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Miscellaneous