How Centene is Putting Kids First with a Better Model for Foster Care Health

Cheryl Fisher, Vice President of Business Development at Centene

 

 

Children and youth in foster care often have health needs that look very different from those of other kids. Many come into care with gaps in medical support and a history of trauma, which can affect both physical and behavioral health. Helping them stay healthy takes more than a standard pediatric visit. It requires care that is coordinated, consistent, and built around the realities of foster care.

As a long-standing partner to states, Centene has supported the health needs of children involved in the foster care system for more than a decade and today serves more children in foster care through Medicaid than any other managed care organization in the nation.

In this Q&A, Cheryl Fisher, Vice President of Business Development at Centene, explains why Centene created its Foster Care Center of Excellence (FCCOE) model and how these specialized clinics are helping improve care for children and youth in foster care. Cheryl began her career supporting women and children impacted by trauma and has spent more than 25 years working in behavioral health and child welfare. Today, she leads Centene’s strategy for serving children and families involved in the foster care system.

Q: How do the healthcare needs of children and youth in foster care differ from other kids?

A: Children in foster care face a significantly higher likelihood of both behavioral health challenges and chronic physical health conditions compared to their peers. Many of these needs have gone unaddressed before they enter care, so it’s important that each child can get timely care to identify immediate concerns and develop an ongoing plan for support.

Because trauma is so common among children and youth in foster care, including experiences such as abuse, neglect or domestic violence, care teams must take a trauma informed approach that reflects each child’s history and how those experiences may affect their health and behavior. Care needs to be flexible and responsive, recognizing that trauma can affect each child differently. When care is grounded in that understanding, providers are better equipped to support both immediate needs and long term well being during a critical period of a child’s life.

Q: How did these needs drive the development of Centene’s FCCOE model?

A: When we developed the FCCOE model, our primary goal was to ensure that children in foster care receive coordinated, trauma informed care that’s designed around each child’s individual needs. By establishing specialized medical homes through the FCCOE model, where Centene's designated providers serve as the care hub, we bring care teams together in one place and work more closely with child welfare partners. This helps address each child’s unique needs and supports their overall health and well being.

A key part of this model is making things easier for foster parents and caregivers. Instead of navigating multiple systems to secure essential services, caregivers can now access a wide range of support in a single, centralized in-person location, including physical and behavioral healthcare as well as important resources like clothing and food. This helps caregivers respond more quickly and keeps care better coordinated for the children they support.

Q: Can you explain how FCCOEs deliver care differently from other pediatric clinics?

A: The commitment to coordination and trauma-informed care is built into how FCCOEs operate day-to-day. FCCOEs are pediatric clinics designated through Centene’s model based on a defined set of criteria, including required trauma-informed training for staff and clear guidelines for how care teams work together.

FCCOEs also stand out because they offer same day appointments for child welfare screenings, making it easier to address urgent needs quickly. Clinics ensure access to after-hours and emergency care, either directly or through referrals, so children always have a clear path to care when something unexpected happens.

FCCOEs prioritize regular communication with child welfare agencies and put simple, clear processes in place to keep everyone aligned. There’s also a dedicated point of contact at the health plan, which allows providers to resolve issues quickly and ensure extra support is available when it’s needed.

Q: What outcomes is Centene seeing for children served at FCCOEs?

A: While children receiving care at FCCOEs often have more complex health risks than those seen at other clinics, the outcomes we’re seeing are encouraging. These children are more likely to attend well child visits on time, stay up-to-date on immunizations, and receive timely follow-up care after a behavioral health related hospital stay.

We also hear consistently positive feedback from foster parents and caregivers. Many point to the clinic’s flexibility, especially when scheduling appointments for multiple children in the same household or adjusting plans when circumstances change. That flexibility helps families stay connected to care and makes it easier to respond to a child’s needs as they arise.

Q: Are there plans to expand the FCCOE program?

A: Based on what we’ve seen so far, we’ve expanded the FCCOE model across five states, with efforts underway currently to add clinics in three more states. These centers recognize that children and youth in foster care have distinct needs, and they’re built to respond to those needs thoughtfully and consistently. By providing care that’s coordinated and trauma informed, FCCOEs are helping create better experiences and better outcomes for the children and families they serve.