|
|
|
|
|
Nancy A Sowan, RN, PhD, Nursing, The University of Vermont, 225 Rowell, Burlington, VT 05405, 802-656-3053, Nancy.Sowan@uvm.edu, Nancy Menard, RN, MSA, District Director, Vermont Department of Health, 1193 North Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401, Peigi Huseby, BSN, Vermont Department of Health, Public Health Nurse, 1193 North Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401, and Dawn Philibert, MSW, Division of Community Public Health, Vermont Department of Health, 108 Cherry Street, PO Box 70, Burlington, VT 05402, 802-652-4182, dphilib@vdh.state.vt.us.
The purpose of the project was to create and shape the supports needed to bring the health and mental health status of abused and neglected children to optimum levels, to help these children develop a strong and stable relationship with a medical home, and to help them gain competence in making choices for healthy development. A public health nurse (PHN) was hired to pilot a new model of public health/child welfare agency collaboration. This PHN worked with the children, the SRS caseworkers, primary care providers, foster parents, parents, and attorneys to assess children’s health and mental health needs, to connect them with necessary health and mental health services, and to monitor progress. Locating a PHN in the SRS office has demonstrated the need for specialized attention to the health needs of children in state custody. SRS caseworkers, faced with complex and heavy caseloads, often have neither the time nor the expertise to address health, dental, and mental health needs of children and youth in their caseloads. Because their focus is on assuring the safety of these children, other less urgent needs may go unrecognized. The availability of a specialized PHN to provide consultation, case management and health education to this population presents a unique opportunity to improve the functioning and well-being of high risk children and potentially improve their health status and health-related behaviors.
Acknowledgements: Funded from the Vermont Health Foundation
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Public Health Nursing
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.