Program/Project Name
Foster Care Program
Affiliation Name
Holyoke Health Center
Website URL
Model Type
Medical Home
City
Holyoke
State
MA
State specific location
Community Health Center
How is program/project funded?
Health Insurance
Describe how it's funded
The visits are regular foster care and well child and follow up visits that are billed by insurance for both the health care provider and mental health clinician.
What services does it provide?
Entry to care health assessment, Comprehensive health assessment, Standardize screening (developmental, mental health), In-clinic mental health evaluation, Ongoing primary care/medical home
Where does it provide services?
Locally-based
Description of program/project
The Foster Care Program consists of a team of three: lead provider, mental health clinician and care coordinator. They service any and all children and youth who are patients at the Health Center and in addition take referrals from the area child protection offices for children without a medical home, who then remain Health Center patients. The team sees the patients on a dedicated morning every week. They are seen for initial and ongoing foster care visits and well child care as recommended by the AAP guidelines of care for children in Foster Care, with referrals to ancillary and specialty care as needed. In addition, they receive mental health assessment at the initial visit and short term counseling as needed from the MHC as well as referrals to appropriate ongoing therapy. In the afternoon of that day, the team meets for case discussion. The children and youth are followed and case managed throughout their experience in care and remain as patients at the Health Center.
How are patients tracked?
Commercial electronic medical record
Does the program provide special focus?
Developmental delay/issues, Mental health, Developmental Issues, Children in family foster care, Youth in group home/residential care; Young Children, Adolescents
Program/Project strengths
By creating a program within the medical home, we are able to have continuity of care for all of our children and youth, strengthening our relationships with them and improving care. The weekly meeting ensures that no child falls through the cracks and is lost to follow up, which can happen with children in foster care. Every child gets immediate mental health evaluation and prompt short term therapy from our MHC.
Program/Project challenges
Working with Child Protection can be challenging. In addition, there are so many services that are needed that we do not yet have the resources to offer. Foster parent coaching and support for birth parents are two that would be very helpful to consider down the road.
Contact Name
Lucy Garbus
Email Address
Phone Number
413.320.5649
Last Updated
04/28/2025
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics