Unmet health and social needs contribute to youth involvement in both the child welfare and carceral systems, underscoring the need for timely, coordinated care. Recent policy changes enable the use of Medicaid and CHIP funding to support the health care needs of youth returning from incarceration. Effective collaboration between child welfare agencies and their carceral system and Medicaid agency partners is essential to promoting stability and helping youth thrive in their homes, schools, and communities.

This fact sheet summarizes recent federal Medicaid and CHIP policy changes affecting youth returning from incarceration and outlines key actions child welfare leaders can take to support implementation of these policy changes, with the goal of strengthening continuity of coverage and improving outcomes for the young people they serve.