IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Advocating for the health needs of children and teens in foster care is something everyone can do. From mentoring a teen to working with state or federal officials to make changes, there are a number of things that you can do to advocate on behalf of children and teens in care. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advocates that all children, including children in foster care, should have a medical home that is accessible, and provides health care that is continuous over time, comprehensive, child-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective. For children in foster care, a medical home provider should understand the impact of childhood trauma on health and development and be an advocate for permanency and stability.

Everyone can do something to make a difference for a child or teen in foster care, including:

• Volunteering or working in agencies that serve children or teens in foster care
• Becoming a mentor to a child or teen in foster care
• Teaching independent living skills to children and teens in foster care
• Advocating for services and policies at the federal and state level that serve children and teens in foster care up to the age of 21
• Advocating for permanency (a permanent home) for teens and young adults leaving care
• Advocating for services for teens and young adults transitioning out of foster care
• Working closely with schools to ensure children in foster care receive all necessary evaluations and services
• Starting a “backpack” program so that children in foster care have items for school
• Donating to a fund that pays to enroll children in foster care in “extracurricular activities”
• Subscribe to the Healthy Foster Care America listserv, which will send the latest information related to health and foster care.

To learn more about what you can do to make a difference, click below.
We hope you check back soon for updates!

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Resources

Tip Sheets It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training: A Guide to Transition Services from Casey Family Programs Make a Difference in a Child’s Life: A Manual for Helping Children and Youth Get What They Need in School Mentoring Children in Foster Care   AAP Publications Testimony of Dave Rubin, MD MSCE FAAP on behalf of the AAP, House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support hearing, Foster Children and the Health Care System Testimony of Laurel K Leslie, MD MPH FAAP on behalf of the AAP, House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, Hearing on the Utilization of Psychotropic Medication for Children in Foster Care

Web sites Court-Appointed Special Advocates Child Welfare League of America Foster Care Alumni of America Fostering Connections to success: Resources in Seven Key Areas Mentoring USA National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Resources for Parents and Caregivers National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges National Foster Care Month National Foster Parent Association National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning National Resource Center for Youth Services   For more tools and resources, go to Tools and Resources.