Program/Project Name
FaCES (Foster Children Evaluation Services) Clinic
Affiliation Name
University of Massachusetts Medical School/UMass Memorial Health Care
Website URL
Model Type
Evaluation
City
Worcester
State
MA
State specific location
academic hospital-based clinic
How is program/project funded?
State Funding, Health Insurance
Describe how it's funded
In addition to Medicaid reimbursement, FaCES receives supplemental funding from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. We have also received grants from foundations for specific projects
What services does it provide?
Entry to care health assessment, Comprehensive health assessment, Standardize screening (developmental, mental health), In-clinic mental health evaluation, Subspecialty referrals
Where does it provide services?
Locally-based
Description of program/project
FaCES (Foster Children Evaluation Services) Clinic was founded in 2003 to provide access to initial screening and comprehensive visits for all children entering foster care in Worcester County and surrounding central Massachusetts communities. Since that time, approximately 2500 children have been evaluated and then sent on to their Medical Home (preferably their MH prior to foster care but often a new MH chosen by the foster parents) for ongoing health care while in foster care. Children are referred from their local Department of Children and Families (DCF) area office within 24 hours after placement. Medical records are retrieved and an appointment made for initial screen as soon as possible. During the initial screen and the comprehensive visit, immunizations are updated, lab evaluations completed (HIV, Hepatitis C, CBC, others as needed), mental health screening including trauma screen completed, and all referrals made. At the conclusion of the evaluation period a Medical Evaluation Summary Is generated (from our own database) and sent along to DCF and to the ongoing Medical Home
How are patients tracked?
Commercial electronic medical record, Specialized database for your program, Allscripts
Does the program provide special focus?
No special focus
Program/Project strengths
One of the strengths of our program is our close collaboration with our local DCF offices. We meet regularly to discuss current problems and develop solutions. Because we communicate on a regular basis we have developed an understanding of each other’s cultures and have a smooth and successful working relationship.
We receive supplemental funding from our child welfare agency in addition to Medicaid reimbursement – this allows us to support a clinic coordinator who can track down medical records, schedule patients, be the first point of contact for DCF and the foster families, and provide care management for our patients.
Over the past five years, we have strengthened our focus on the issues of trauma exposure in our patients and have developed linkages with mental health agencies for trauma-specific services.
Program/Project challenges
Continuing to receive supplemental funding! Another challenge is scheduling patients to meet the DCF policy guidelines – we don’t currently have evening or weekend hours which would be helpful for working parents. Finally, we are continually challenged by our understanding of important issues in the evolving word of foster care medicine, especially in the areas of obesity prevention and treatment, trauma exposure and PTSD, and educational concerns
Contact Name
Linda Sagor MD, MPH
Email Address
linda.sagor@umassmemorial.org
Phone Number
(774) 443-7962 or (774) 442-4198
Last Updated
07/22/2021
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics