In order to address problems related to the health care of children in foster care, policymakers need detailed information about health status, health care utilization, and Medicaid expenditures. This policy brief summarizes a study examining health care utilization and expenditures paid by Medicaid for children in foster care in California,…

In June 1999, Making the Grade and the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care sponsored a workshop to examine the best political and financial strategies for fostering the growth and stability of school-based health centers (SBHCs). State and local elected officials offered detailed accounts of how public support for a growing network of…

Describes ENHANCE (Excellence in Health Care for Abused and Neglected Children) of Onondaga County, New York, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary clinic for children in out-of-home care involving pediatrics, child psychology, nursing, child development, and child welfare components. Also presents profiles of the health, mental health, and…

A new strategy to improve the delivery of vaccination services to adolescents and to integrate recommendations for vaccination with other adolescent preventive services promotes vaccination of young adolescents by establishing routine visits to their health care providers. Recommendations for vaccination are based on new or current information for…

Addresses responding to a child with special health care needs with a life-threatening medical emergency, including an equipment malfunction, when it occurs in community settings. Collaborative development of portable individualized emergency response plans is discussed, and illustrative care scenarios, a sample plan, and policy recommendations…

Assessed whether the timing of prenatal care related to low birth weight delivery, adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors. Data on births to white and African American women showed no benefits for early initiation of prenatal care in reducing the risk of low birth weight.(SM)

An Alabama initiative aimed to improve access to oral health care for Medicaid-eligible children through four components: improved Medicaid claims processing, increased reimbursement for providers, outreach and educational activities to support providers, and parent and patient education about children's oral health. In the first 3 program years,…

Reviews reports on the role of the school nurse in supporting student academic success. Includes efforts to alleviate shortages of school nurses, the multifaceted role of the school nurse, and the results of Missouri's statewide plan to improve nurse-provided student health services. (PKP)

Emphasizes that the Brazleton and Greenspan book focuses on the needs of children, not those of parents or service providers, spotlighting healthy maturation. Stresses recommendations for public policy, research, and clinical experiences. (SD)

The Child Health and Illness Profile--Adolescent Edition (CHIP-AE) was administered to 63 adolescents in group settings. Domains studied were satisfaction, resilience, risk, achievement, and disorders. Compared to a normed group, youth in group homes or institutions felt physically healthy and safe and were resilient. Of concern were low…

Discusses how child caregivers can work with child life specialists to provide appropriate support for children with special health needs in early childhood settings. Describes the impact of chronic illness and hospitalization on infants and toddlers, offers suggestions for helping infants/toddlers and their families cope, focuses on play as a way…

Describes proposals intended to strengthen the American family, specifically initiatives to improve child immunization programs, expand Project Head Start, advance the Family Preservation and Support initiative, reform welfare programs, and adopt a national health care program. (MDM)

Discusses issues that might be presented in an inservice for teachers of students who have AIDS or who are HIV-positive. Covers prevalence and characteristics of problem, some universal precautions, and classroom accommodation and management. (JW)

The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) is the largest school-based health promotion research project to date, involving 96 elementary schools nationwide. The article describes recruitment strategies used at four sites, examines how social learning theory guided project activities, discusses logistical considerations, and…

Describes new concerns about infectious diseases in childcare settings (tuberculosis, gastrointestinal infections, and lice); sleep position and SIDS; HIV/AIDS issues; and the use of sterilized sand in sand boxes. (DR)