American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a nonprofit organization, representing approximately 60,000 pediatricians dedicated to achieving the optimal physical, mental, and social health of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. The AAP believes that children must have access to high-quality, cost-effective pediatric health services provided through a medical home.
At any given time, the AAP is working on a multitude of critical child health issues. Of these issues, the AAP Board of Directors selects a few as strategic priorities that are national in scope and can make a significant, measurable contribution to the AAP mission. In 2006, foster care was added to the strategic plan as a priority. Soon thereafter, the Task Force on Foster Care was created.
AAP Task Force on Foster Care
The AAP Task Force on Foster Care (TFOFC) consists of 10 AAP members as well as 6 members from external organizations, including the including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Child Welfare League of America, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the National Foster Parent Association, the National Medical Association, and the Foster Care Alumni of America.
The TFOFC was charged with raising the awareness, knowledge, and skills of pediatricians and other relevant partners regarding the needs of children and teens in foster care. Members of the TFOFC developed the tools and resources that you will find on this Web site. AAP members may click here
for a list of the TFOFC members.
Healthy Foster Care America
Healthy Foster Care America (HFCA) is an initiative of the AAP and its partners to improve the health and well-being outcomes of children and teens in foster care. Partners have included representatives from child welfare, family practice, social work, nursing, government, the legislative and judicial fields, child psychiatry and psychology, education, advocacy organizations, alumni, and families.
HFCA partners first met in Washington, DC, in April 2005 with the goal of fostering collaboration among the various disciplines working with children and teens in foster care in an effort to develop a collaborative action plan to improve the health and well-being of these children. The coalition partners affirmed that our collaborative and combined voice on behalf of children, teens, and families is more powerful than any 1 voice alone. Click here for a full list of the original HFCA partners.
