Foster & Kinship Care Support Services

Over time, it has become clear that children who experience foster or kinship care share many of the same needs as children who experienced institutional care & neglect. With the support of generous donors and grant funding provided through the Department of Human Services the Adoption Medicine Clinic has expanded its services to support children in foster and kinship care. Whether a child has recently come into your care or has been with you a few months, the Adoption Medicine Clinic can provide your family with supports to meet a child's unique physical, mental or developmental needs, support parents in building healthy attachments, help families navigate big transitions and more. 

Comprehensive Child Wellness Assessments

Comprehensive Child Wellness Assessments (CCWA) are 60 to 90 minute clinical assessments that evaluate the mental, developmental, physical and oral health of children that have been placed into foster or kinship care. CCWAs are for children ages 0-10 years old as our services focus on early intervention and prevention.

Assessments Include:

• Head-to-Toe Physical Exam & Review of Medical History by a Pediatrician
• Developmental Screening by an Occupational Therapist
• Mental Health Risk & Assessment by a Child Psychologist
• Medical Screening for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
• Lab Work to Screen for Underlying Medical Problems
• Oral Health Assessments by a Dental Hygienist (Monday Clinic Only)
• Referral & Resource Support
• Continued Follow-up through Early Childhood Development

Note: Upon request, children over the age of 10 may request an appointment specifically for FASD Medical Screening. Appointments must be requested through iac@umn.edu and the child must have a neuropsychology assessment completed prior to scheduling with the AMC. 

Learn About CCWA and How to Schedule an Appointment

Post-Placement Parent & Caregiver Coaching

45-minute coaching sessions for parents of adopted, fostered and kinship children of any age that are seeking consultation and coaching by an adoption specialist. 

Topics that Coaching Can help Address include but are not limited to:

• Understanding the potential impact of early adversities, multiple caregiver transitions, prenatal exposures and trauma
• Helping you gain confidence and comfort in your parenting relationship with your child
• Helping you build your own inner strength and resiliency as a parent and caregiver 
• Supporting your child in their positive identity development as an adopted or foster care person 
• Supporting your child’s identity in a transracial/transcultural family
• Building child-caregiver alignment as a child enters into early adolescents and adulthood

Learn About Post-Placement Coaching