Keeping Up with Your Foster Child’s Medical Needs

Regular Checkups

Regular medical checkups are important for everyone’s health. For foster children, they are even more crucial. During a checkup, a doctor will assess your foster child’s overall health and look for signs of any health problems.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) have a set of standards for healthcare for children and teens in foster care. They recommend that foster children have a:

• Health screening within 72 hours of being placed in foster care

• Comprehensive medical exam within 30 days of placement that includes:

  • A mental health evaluation

  • A dental exam

  • An educational evaluation if older than 5 years of age

  • A developmental health exam if younger than 6 years of age

• Follow-up health visit within 60 to 90 days of placement

After that, they suggest visits:

• Monthly for infants from birth to 6 months

• Every 3 months for children ages 6 to 24 months

• Twice a year for children and teens between ages 24 months and 21 years

To help stay organized, ask if you can schedule all the appointments you need for the next six months. Then add them to your calendar right away. This lets you plan other activities around them later.

Remember, these healthcare visits should happen even if your foster child isn’t feeling sick.

Managing Medical Visits

Going to the doctor a lot can be tough for kids—and for you. But every visit helps keep your foster child healthy. Here are some ways to reduce the stress of medical visits.

For Kids

• Prepare them for visits. Explain what will happen during the visit. You might say, “The doctor will listen to your heart and check your ears and eyes. But I’ll be with you the whole time.”

• Practice positive reinforcement. After the visit, treat your child to a small reward for being brave. This could be a favorite snack or extra playtime. These rewards can make your child less worried about medical visits.

• Involve them in the process. Let them ask the doctor questions. Encourage your child to share any fears or concerns they may have.

• Make them comfortable. Bring along a favorite toy, blanket, or other comfort item to the appointment.

For You

• Use technology to stay organized. Keep track of appointments using a digital calendar, such as Google Calendar.

• Coordinate schedules. If you need to schedule multiple appointments, try to coordinate them so they’re on the same day. This helps minimize travel and wait times.

• Be aware of your own mental health. Managing lots of medical visits can be stressful. Take time for self-care and relaxation. A foster parent support group can help when you’re feeling overwhelmed, too.

Keeping in touch with your foster child’s health care team

Staying in touch with your foster child’s health care providers is crucial for keeping them healthy. Communicate in whatever ways are easiest for you—phone calls, emails, or even apps, if the health care providers use them. Make sure your foster child’s medical records are updated with every visit.

You’ll want to discuss your foster child’s physical and mental health with their health care team. Some topics might include your foster child’s:

• Medical history (including immunizations)

• Current health status

• Medicines and their side effects

• Developmental milestones and educational needs

• Eating habits

• Physical and social activities

• Sleep habits

• Trauma history and types of protective services

• Mental health concerns

• Dental health

• Physical disabilities

• Neurological disorders

• Support groups

You should feel comfortable asking the doctor any questions you have about your foster child’s health. If you don’t, try to find other doctors who make you feel comfortable. Remember, their job is to offer advice and to support both you and your foster child.

Foster parenting is a demanding yet deeply rewarding journey. With planning and organization, you can make managing your foster child’s medical care and welfare a bit easier. Be sure to lean on your support network as needed, too.