Stoneleigh Fellow Christine Dougherty participated in a panel on the health issues facing foster children during a session at the National Forum on Children, Families and the Courts: Planning for the Future. Held April 29-May 2, 2008, in Philadelphia, the event was sponsored by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
The session, “The Unhealthy Truth: Health Care and Children in the Courts”, addressed medical care services and care coordination for children placed in foster care. The “unhealthy truth” is that, while courts significantly contribute to the health and welfare of foster children, substantial health care issues persist with this population. The discussion focused on the systems of care needed to enhance health care delivery to the foster care population and on the importance of courts partnering with health and human service agencies.
The distinguished panel also included:
- Calvin B. Johnson, M.D., Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Carol E. Tracy, Esq., Executive Director of the Women’s Law Project, Philadelphia
- Robin Mekonnen, Project Director, The Children’s Stability and Well-being Study, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Robin is the project director for Stoneleigh Fellow David Rubin’s project.
