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! 

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Course Discussion

mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

I as a foster parent take the youth in foster care to education seminars.
mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

I as a foster parent also take courses on how to help the youth in their transition in their new life ,been by them self.
mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

I as foster parent has learned a lot of information to help my youth that has been in the foster care system.
mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

I as a foster parent let the youth that was been foster care, you are always here for their support.
mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

The youth need to know what type of insurance is needed and assist them in getting the right paper work.
mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

I can as a foster parent help them fill out their paper work.
mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

I did not know that youth had to have so much help in their medical care.
mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

This was helpful, we have used this to help do their appointments and order their meds. We do not let the youth keep meds ,unless its rescue med or diebetic medication.
mnelson72209@sbcglobal.net's picture
1 year 10 months ago

[email protected] said:

I can assist them in their transition.
Nplummer1's picture
1 year 11 months ago

Nplummer1 said:

Educate them on the importance of knowing their medical record and know how to access medical information. Also getting them involved as young as possible