Fostering Connections Program

Program/Project Name

Fostering Connections Program

Affiliation Name

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Website URL

https://familysafetyandhealing.org/services/fostering-connections/

Model Type

Medical Home

City

Columbus

State

OH

State specific location

Hospital based clinic

How is program/project funded?

Health Insurance

Describe how it's funded

Franklin County Children's Services provides some funding for staff support

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,Ongoing primary care/medical home

Where does it provide services?

Locally-based

Description of program/project

Established in the Child assessment Center as part of the Division of Child abuse. A medical home with primary care services for children and youth who are in foster/kinship/residential care from local counties and more widespread. Staffed with physicians, NP's, nursing, social work, psychology. Address physical and mental health needs, make appropriate referrals, provide support to foster and kinship parents, assist youth transitioning out of foster care

How are patients tracked?

Commercial electronic medical record

Does the program provide special focus?

N/A

Program/Project strengths

Ability to provide primary care and address ongoing health and mental health needs; collaboration with foster care agencies and Children's Services; working to provide better outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care

Program/Project challenges

Collaboration with statewide agencies and Children's Services can be challenging. Linkage with Psychiatric services as needed- We need to build more community collaborative supports such as support for foster parents, mentoring for youth, education of youth on health topics such as contraception and STI's Building collaboration with schools

Contact Name

Barbara Oettgen

Email Address

anne.oettgen@nationwidechildrens.org

Phone Number

614-722-6789