Published Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 at 11:52 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Child Health Passports to help foster children
A new system of Child Health Passports will help to better manage and treat the multiple health problems of children who come into care.
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said the need for the new system has been highlighted by a six month trial.
The Child Health Passport is an initiative of the Department of Child Safety and Queensland Health and Queensland is the first state to institute this system.
“Children who have been abused often come to us with no medical records.
“With the Child Health Passport each child entering care will undergo a full check up.
“A health plan will then be developed to meet the child’s needs. For as long as the child remains in care the health plan will be reviewed at least yearly and more often if required.
“The health plan, medical records, and information on how to meet the day-to-day health needs of the child will be contained in the Child Health Passport.
“A copy of the passport will be given to any new carer or to the parent if the child returns home,” Ms Boyle said.
The Child Health Passport was piloted at five locations, including metropolitan, rural, and remote locations throughout Queensland from January to July 2006.
Seventy children were assessed - 40 girls and 30 boys - from 3 months to 17 years of age.
Preliminary results have shown that of these 70 children, 66 were identified as having multiple health problems and only 4 children were identified as having no health problems.
Ms Boyle said the problems range from those easily treated to those that will require long term treatment.
Of the 66, 29% were not up to date with their immunisations, 24% had dental decay, 24% failed vision screening, and 17% needed further assessment in relation to their hearing.
“It’s hard to believe that these parents haven’t even given their children basic health care.
“The figures also show what we’ve suspected and that is when parents let their kids down there are psychological consequences.
“Nearly half the children have behavioural and emotional health problems including attachment issues, separation issues, reactions to visits and aggression.
“Some children are depressed and have suicidal thoughts; and more than a third have speech and language delays.
“A proportion of the children are suffering from major chronic conditions such as asthma, foetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism.
“This profile on the health problems of children in care is a further confirmation of the difficult and hard work done by child safety officers and foster carers to compensate for the dreadful failure of so many parents,” Ms Boyle said.
The Child Health Passport will be progressively implemented for all children in our care commencing in early 2007.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said the need for the new system has been highlighted by a six month trial.
The Child Health Passport is an initiative of the Department of Child Safety and Queensland Health and Queensland is the first state to institute this system.
“Children who have been abused often come to us with no medical records.
“With the Child Health Passport each child entering care will undergo a full check up.
“A health plan will then be developed to meet the child’s needs. For as long as the child remains in care the health plan will be reviewed at least yearly and more often if required.
“The health plan, medical records, and information on how to meet the day-to-day health needs of the child will be contained in the Child Health Passport.
“A copy of the passport will be given to any new carer or to the parent if the child returns home,” Ms Boyle said.
The Child Health Passport was piloted at five locations, including metropolitan, rural, and remote locations throughout Queensland from January to July 2006.
Seventy children were assessed - 40 girls and 30 boys - from 3 months to 17 years of age.
Preliminary results have shown that of these 70 children, 66 were identified as having multiple health problems and only 4 children were identified as having no health problems.
Ms Boyle said the problems range from those easily treated to those that will require long term treatment.
Of the 66, 29% were not up to date with their immunisations, 24% had dental decay, 24% failed vision screening, and 17% needed further assessment in relation to their hearing.
“It’s hard to believe that these parents haven’t even given their children basic health care.
“The figures also show what we’ve suspected and that is when parents let their kids down there are psychological consequences.
“Nearly half the children have behavioural and emotional health problems including attachment issues, separation issues, reactions to visits and aggression.
“Some children are depressed and have suicidal thoughts; and more than a third have speech and language delays.
“A proportion of the children are suffering from major chronic conditions such as asthma, foetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism.
“This profile on the health problems of children in care is a further confirmation of the difficult and hard work done by child safety officers and foster carers to compensate for the dreadful failure of so many parents,” Ms Boyle said.
The Child Health Passport will be progressively implemented for all children in our care commencing in early 2007.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477