The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a new policy statement in Pediatrics to draw attention to the medical and mental health needs of children in foster care. Many children have faced abuse, neglect, violence, or have been traumatized from being removed from their families. Foster families face challenges of incomplete medical and vaccination history, difficulty obtaining consent for treatment, or inadequate resources to provide treatment. Pediatricians face challenges prescribing treatment without a full history. The AAP seeks to remediate these concerns with clear and specific guidelines, including recommending a first medical visit “within 72 hours of a child’s placement into foster care, and within 24 hours for children with chronic medical or developmental conditions or who are the suspected victims of abuse.”

The AAP stresses that pediatricians play a key role in monitoring the well-being of children who may move through many homes.