Many California Foster Children Do Not Receive Timely Medical & Dental Exams

Among those in foster care, over a quarter of children aged 0 to 17 in California did not receive their required timely medical exams in 2019. Timely medical exams include physical health exams, developmental screenings, psychosocial evaluations, nutritional assessments, and vision and hearing tests. For dental exams, one-third of California children in foster care did not receive a timely exam in 2019.

Timely medical and dental exams are required for children in foster care in accordance with the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program periodicity schedules effective July 2016. The periodicity schedule is intended to ensure children receive their . . .