For child protective services cases, one category on the Strength/Needs Assessment for substantiated reports is Child Characteristics. This addresses any physical, emotional or intellectual problem and the degree of severity for each child. As part of the on-going case planning with the family, the case manager and family must address a child's health care needs in the case plan whenever this is identified as a need in the family.

The Standards for Comprehensive Child and Family Assessments - FORM #65 (Rev. 6/1/00) developed by the Division of Family and Children Services supports the Division's Reform Strategy - First Placement Best Placement. As part of the Comprehensive Child and Family Assessment, there is a Medical Evaluation Assessment that must be completed. If counties choose to purchase just the Medical Evaluation Assessment, they may do so on the Prorated Assessment Invoice for a maximum amount of $150.00 per child.

The Medical Evaluation Assessment portion of the comprehensive assessment includes a copy of any recent medical records within the last calendar year. Providers are required to fully complete DHR's Form #419 (Background Information for State Agency Child) - this is a 7 page synopsis on the child's family medical background from both the paternal and maternal side of the family. Lastly, the completion of a two (2) page Medical Evaluation form covers areas of the child's health history that are not explored by Form #419. It covers the child's history of illness, the family's health history and the child's personal health history (to include allergies, hospitalizations, significant injuries, sexual activity history, substance use history immunizations, etc.) It also includes a section to be completed by a Medical Doctor, Licensed Nurse which covers the child's physical exam (exploring areas such as weight, height, blood pressure, skin, HEENT, Heart, Lungs, Genitalia, Musculoskeletal, Neurologic, Laboratory Data, etc.) The Physicians impressions, treatment plan and recommendations and any referrals are also apart of this form.

Case managers are required by policy (Social Services Manual Chapter 1011.2) to arrange appropriate and timely medical care for a child in care and for obtaining health-related documents for the case record. The case manager provides:

• Follow up on any recommendations;

• Arranges for routine, preventative medical care for a Medicaid eligible child through the early and periodic screenings of the health check program (formerly the EPSDT program) and/or with the child's private provider if not Medicaid eligible;

• Schedules well checks periodically (depending on the child's age);

• Communicates and updates the child's foster parent or other provider about the child's health status and health care needs;

• Immediately informs the parent of any injuries, accidents or major illnesses of the child while in care.

CPRS data entry should be completed on a child with the initial case plan and then updated on the periodic case plans for the child and family. There are two sections on the CPRS - Health care Provider and health Care Status that should be completed on every child in care. The Health Care Provider section gives the provider's (Physician, Clinic, Hospital, etc.) name, address and phone number. The Health Care Status section covers immunization information, medications, last dates of medical, dental and psychological evaluations, and whether or not the documents can be found in the record.