Executive Summary
Child maltreatment is a significant public health problem in the United States with millions of children
investigated for maltreatment annually and hundreds of thousands of children in out-of- home foster care placement. These children have increased rates of
chronic mental and physical health challenges as well as lifelong health effects following maltreatment. Health care before entry into foster care has often been fragmented and inconsistent. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children and adolescents in foster care utilize a medical home model for children with complex health care needs. Data supports their utility in multiple populations, though specific foster care medical homes have not been systematically evaluated in the literature. The AAP and other organizations make recommendations regarding their use, including providing a multitude of services and consistent delivery of care. These recommendations are clearly focused on mitigating the complexity of caring for children and adolescents in foster care.