A comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to providing health care for children in out-of-home care

Every community has children placed in the out-of-home care system. Despite a high prevalence of health, mental health, and developmental morbidity in children in care, most child welfare agencies have not provided adequate diagnostic and therapeutic services for these children. A comprehensive, multidisciplinary clinic for children in out-of-home care involving pediatrics, child psychology, nursing, child development, and child welfare is described. Profiles of the health, mental health, and developmental status of the children in out-of-home care are also presented.