Public Health Nurses working in the Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC), collaborate with the Monterey County Department of Social services, Family and Children’s Services Branch and the Monterey County Juvenile Probation to ensure that children who have been removed from their homes and placed in foster care or group homes receive the health care they need.

What do HCPCFC public health nurses do?

• Gather and interpret medical, dental, developmental and behavioral health information to create and maintain a Health and Education Passport for each foster child. The Passport informs foster caregivers and healthcare providers about the child’s health history.
• Serve as a consultant to the foster child’s social worker or probation officer to meet the medical, dental, developmental, and behavioral health needs of each foster youth.
• Coordinate medical, dental, and mental health care for foster children that are placed at in-county, out-of-county, and out-of-state locations.
• Ensure that each foster child obtains comprehensive preventative pediatric health care including well-child exams and periodic dental exams in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures recommendations.
• Provide health education and resources to child welfare, juvenile probation staff, foster caregivers, foster children, service providers, and other members of the foster care team.

Foster Caregivers and Healthcare Providers

Caregivers and Healthcare Providers can request a blank copy of the health contact forms and their instructions by calling the phone numbers listed in the Contact Information.

Contact Information

• Family and Children’s Services at 831-755-4475 and ask for the assigned social worker or for the social worker of the day
• Juvenile Probation at 831-755-3900 and ask for a placement officer

Resources

• Medi-Cal Dental Program Providers, Provider Directory Search (ca.gov) or call 1-800-322-6384.
• Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance), For Members - Central California Alliance for Health (thealliance.health) or call 1-800-700-3874.
• Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory, Health Plan Directory (ca.gov)
• Medi-Cal for kids & Teens, Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens