The health care needs of children in foster care are vast and compounded by their circumstances. Because they are often at the intersection of multiple public systems including behavioral health, child welfare, education, juvenile justice, and primary care, it is critical for these systems to work collaboratively to meet their health needs.

Most children in foster care are insured through Medicaid, which makes state Medicaid agencies one of the major players in developing solutions to address the issues of this population.

This brief, produced by CHCS for the State Policy Advocacy Reform Center (SPARC), details the health care needs of children in foster care and the role of Medicaid in providing health coverage for this population. It also highlights existing policy levers that may help to address ongoing health and well-being issues faced by children in foster care.