In California today, there are over 62,000 children and youth in foster care, many of whom face instability in their homes, schools, and health care. While many foster youth overcome significant adverse experiences to become healthy and productive adults, for others the challenges can last a lifetime. Foster youth often have multiple, unique health and academic needs, but, because of frequent changes in their medical care, families, and the schools they attend, efforts to help them are often disjointed.
Digital technology offers a powerful opportunity to build information sharing into practice in a way that other coordination efforts have not. Electronic care coordination promotes more effective and reliable connections among caregivers, health providers, educators, and youth themselves. This can ease foster youth’s transitions into adulthood and help them connect to the right resources they need to lead healthy and productive lives. This report outlines the current landscape for foster youth and the top benefits electronic care coordination can provide to alleviate their pressing needs.
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