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Foster Care Clinic

Description and Educational Objectives: Learn a multi-disciplinary approach to all aspects of caring for children in foster care. This will include medical evaluation and treatment in the outpatient clinic and variable visitations to community partners. In addition, working with community resources will be included. Educational objectives are:

  1. Understand the initial medical evaluation for a child entering foster care including specific history taking and interview techniques; reviewing past medical records; detailed physical exam with special attention to skin exam for signs of physical abuse or neglect; and initial plan of medical care.
  2. Obtain familiarity with community resources involved in evaluation and care of these children.
  3. Become familiar with medical team members roles and community partners in the multidisciplinary evaluation of children in foster care.
  4. Understand the impact of trauma on children and how to practice trauma informed care.
  5. Understand the medical complexities of children in foster care including developmental, psychological and social issues, and what is needed for their evaluation.

Responsible Faculty: Claire Hickey, MD (chickey@cmh.edu)

Administrative Support: Cindy Marler

General Contact Person: Holly Frey, Medical Student Coordinator (hlfrey@cmh.edu)

Site Location: SCAN Clinic (Foster Care Clinic); Family Therapy at CM; Child Protection Center

Elective duration: 4 weeks duration; week days 8 am to 4 pm clinic

Format: Clinical

Maximum Enrollment: 1 student at a time

Prerequisites: Completion of Core Pediatric Clerkship, Strong interest in Pediatrics and in their final year of medical school.

Typical Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Conferences/didactics sessions are scheduled throughout the rotation.

Calls: None

Criteria for passing: Completion of a presentation on topic relevant to rotation. 

Criteria for honors: Excellence in presentation and in development of clinical skills relevant to rotation.