Health Care for Transition Age Foster Youth

Credit hours:

3.00

Course Summary

Children and youth in foster care are at a higher risk for medical and mental health problems than those not in care. This is often a direct result of their childhood trauma, making it extremely important that they receive high-quality, coordinated health care. In addition, health care is often court-ordered and may have been an unpleasant experience where youth felt they had little control, creating unique challenges for them when transitioning out of care and beginning to manage their own health care. Foster parents can help with the difficult transition to adulthood by ensuring youth in your care are prepared to manage their health care prior to living independently.

In this course, you can expect to learn:

Unique health needs of foster youth
How to empower foster youth in a health care setting
Elements of Health Care Transition Planning
About health insurance for foster youth until 26

Step 1

Review “Health Care Issues for Children and Adolescents in Foster Care and Kinship Care” to gain insight into the unique challenges faced by youth who have experienced the child welfare system.

Step 2

Read about Brian’s health care experience as a foster youth through multiple transitions, a lack of information regarding his family of origin's medical history, and how his transition to adulthood was affected by not being taught valuable skills to manage his own health.

Step 3

Learn how to “Empower Foster Youth as Patients” at different ages or developmental levels by reviewing this FosterClub resource developed for youth who have experienced or are currently experiencing foster care.

Step 4

Many foster youth are adverse to visiting a health care provider for a variety of reasons. You may be able to help by discussing some basic rights they have as health care consumers. The following handout “Foster Youth Patient Bill of Rights” was developed by FosterClub to inform young people of some trauma-informed rights that may help them ease into getting the medical attention they need and deserve.

Step 5

Creating a transition timeline with youth in your care can be extremely beneficial to their long-term health outcomes. A young person aging out of foster care without proper health care coverage is at risk of suffering untreated health issues which could be detrimental to their independence and well-being. Review the following handout, "Foster Care Youth Transition Planning Timeline", created by FosterClub to guide foster youth and their supportive adults towards a transition plan that can help ensure a young person is prepared to successfully manage their health care needs prior to leaving foster care.

Step 6

Discover how aging out of foster care without health care affected Dashun's journey to independence through this heart-wrenching story about a serious medical condition that could have taken his life.

Step 7

Learn how foster youth qualify for health care until age 26 by reviewing the following handout, "Health Care Coverage for Former Foster Youth", developed by FosterClub.

Step 8

Visit Health Care FFY, a collaborative project by FosterClub, First Focus, and the Juvenile Law Center for more information and to learn ways you and your youth can advocate for their rights.

Step 9

Join the discussion in the comments below to answer the following question:

How can you help support a smooth transition for young people in your home who are ready to begin taking over the management of their own health care?

Step 10

Finished the module? If you are logged in as a subscribed user, take the quiz to earn your Continuing Education Credit hours and certificate!

Course Discussion

3 years 11 months ago

LauraScearce replied:

Great summary!

3 years 12 months ago

emmaetoro said:

To teach them the importance of record keeping, learning about their medical insurance and the company it comes from, how to properly use it to best meet their needs, and how to become their best own advocates in all their healthcare nedds.

4 years 1 month ago

ellliejett53 said:

It is highly important to let them know about how to proper store, take and refill any medications and how to make doctors appointments.

kellie123 said:

To teach the youth about the healthcare system. Help them learn the system and mentor them until they are comfortable managing it themselves. Have them gather as much medical history as possible and teach them the ins and outs of the healthcare system, such as making appointments, filling out required paperwork, filling prescriptions, dealing with the insurance company, and other aspects. It is important we help them become familiar with the entire process so they can be independent on their own.

roger097 said:

great useful information

[email protected] said:

It is important to allow young people to take possession and organize their medical records. Teach them how to fill prescriptions and fill out insurance forms. Allow them to choose a provider they like. And schedule their own appointments, handle medical bills, and organize budget.

4 years 2 months ago

riverreines said:

It is important to have a plan to explain al the medical things available to them and make sure that they are confident in handling their own health care in every way before they are leaving.

kathyb123 said:

It is important to allow young people to take possession and organize their medical records. Teach them how to refill prescriptions and fill out insurance forms. Allow them to choose a provider they like. And schedule their own appointments and handle medical bills.

brookiedee said:

Make sure the youth understands the state specific requirements to maintain Medicaid in their state. Discuss other states they may be interested in living and make a list of those requirements in case they transfer.

jasondupre25 said:

Simply having a discussion and answering questions will begin facilitation for the foster child to manage their own healthcare.

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