Since 2004, a dedicated Public Health Nurse has been working directly with foster families to help them understand the sometimes complex health needs of children in their care.

Through a partnership with Missoula County Child and Family Services Division and the Foster Care Clinic at Partnership Health Center, the program provides support to the foster parents and kinship parents through health education, and ensures children in the foster care system receive access to healthcare, and complete medical records.

The program serves all children new to foster care that meet the program criteria;

• Age newborn to five years old
• Children newly entering the system or in placement transition
• Youth 16 to 18 years of age

 Our Public Health Nurse provides support by; 

• Compiling the child's past and current medical providers and dates of care.
• Referring the child to a doctor, dentist, and other specialty providers if needed.
• Following up on medical referrals made by providers.
• Assisting in collecting and understanding the child's medical history.
• Gathering lost or unknown immunization records and making sure they are up-to-date.
• Helping the family understand medications the child may be taking.
• Supporting Child and Family Services Support Specialists while the child is in their care

In January 2019, the program was awarded a 2-year grant from the Montana Healthcare Foundation to complete a program evaluation that will support replication throughout Montana.   MFCHP Evaluation Brief 12.2020

In July 2019, the Missoula Foster Child Health Program received a Promising Practice award from the National Association of City and County Health Officials.  The award recognizes the program for excellence and replicable qualities in response to a local public health need.  

In July 2017, the program underwent a full program evaluation conducted by Dr. J. Bart Klika with the University of Montana, School of Social Work.  MFCHP Executive Summary 7.2017