Workshop Descriptions

 

Plenary Sessions

 

Keynote Address: Health Care Issues for Children in Foster Care - The Health Status of California's Children in Foster Care
The health status of children in foster care, their access to care, continuity of care, and what State and National policy trends which may have an affect on the health care of a foster child.

 

Public Health Nursing in Child Welfare Services: The Unique Role and Purpose of the PHN
The unique role of the public health nurse in providing public health nurse expertise in meeting the medical, dental, mental and developmental needs of children and youth in foster care. Guiding principles will be discussed for participating in the child welfare team.

 

It’s HEP to be Square
Organizing input and sharing responsibilities in managing the use of the Health and Education Passport for the child’s benefit.

 

 

Workshops

 

Psychotropic Medications:  Age and Diagnosis Appropriate Treatment
Children entering into the foster care and juvenile justice systems experience psychological and mental disorders.  Treatment for this vulnerable population may be complicated by direct and indirect developmental issues as well as changing medication regimens.  The child welfare system focuses on the holistic well-being of the child, including these two aspects. This workshop will address the consulting role of the foster care PHN in a multi-disciplinary team advocating for appropriate psychotropic treatment for children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems.

 

Standards of Excellence in Care Coordination

Utilizing a panel presentation, this workshop will focus on the HCPCFC scope of work, specifically those responsibilities in the area of health care planning and coordination that deal with the processes of care coordination.

 

Developing Influence Skills for Positive Interagency Relationships
Influence skills are highly powerful tools for developing mutually acceptable agreements, creating open communication, addressing differences, and resolving conflict.   In this session participants will learn skills for constructing and delivering feedback as well as developing the tools necessary for influencing through negotiation.

 

Maneuvering through the Quagmire:  Connecting Kids to Care

Foster Care PHNs spend a great deal of their time "maneuvering through the quagmire" to obtain health services for foster children.  Participants will hear from a panel of experts, consisting of Medi-Cal representatives and local program PHNs.  They will discuss the barriers to care and best practices for accessing medical, dental, and mental health services for foster care children.

 

Mental Health and Development – Early Years in Foster Care

Infants and toddlers are the fastest growing category of children entering foster care in the United States.  The healthy mental development of young children in foster care is a primary concern for all child welfare systems. The structure and function of the infant and toddler brain is molded by the environment called home and family.  For infants and toddlers entering foster care those environments are often scenes of violence, neglect, chemical exposures, and abuse.  This workshop will address the appropriate evaluation and interventions that can help protect healthy mental development of infants and toddlers in foster care.

 

Transition from Foster Care to Adulthood

As foster care children begin to transition to the next phase of their lives they will have to deal with a variety of issues involving employment, housing, personal finances, recreation, sexuality, nutrition, and health care.  Planning for their future requires much time and energy and some will require considerable help anticipating and understanding their adult health care needs, as well as how to meet those needs and others may need little additional support.  This workshop will identify and focus on key strategies for developing transition plans for foster care youth.  

 

Probation and the PHN: One Issue at a Time

Utilizing the different perspectives of the PHN and the Probation Officer, this workshop will address those issues that are unique to children placed in out-of-home placement by the juvenile justice system. These issues often create barriers to appropriate and timely health care. Systems-based solutions will be presented as a means for addressing these problems.