Integrated within DCF/CP&P, CHP has established Child Health Units (CHU) co-located in 46 child welfare offices throughout New Jersey. The CHUs are staffed with baccalaureate-prepared nurses who serve as Health Care Case Managers and professional Staff Assistants who provide support and assistance to meet the healthcare goals for children and families. Eighteen (18) Regional Nurse Administrators (RNA) provide administrative support and clinical supervision to multiple CHUs in a specific area and coordinate efforts with the CP&P Local Office Manager for the offices in those areas. Overall program leadership is provided by a team of Doctorial Prepared Nurses with experience and expertise in nursing administration, child welfare, pediatrics, healthcare case management, mental and behavioral health, education, and informatics.
The CHP Health Care Case Management (HCCM) model provides nursing care focusing on children removed from their birth family, with every child and youth in placement assigned to a nurse. The model acknowledges the importance of family for the child. The nursing process is core to the delivery of HCCM. The process is fluid and requires ongoing assessment, planning, and evaluation. During a child’s placement, the nurse works collaboratively with the child, birth parents, resource parents, case workers, and community providers to develop and integrate a health plan within the child welfare service plan to coordinate healthcare services and advocate for child-specific healthcare services. Nurses are responsible for assessing children’s physical and mental health needs, including identification of family strengths and needs, through medical record reviews and home visitation. These healthcare case managers monitor follow-up and response to the health plan, advocate for children’s healthcare needs, and provide health education and anticipatory guidance to birth families, resource families/providers, and youth.
CHP has been touted as a national model and has achieved notable outcomes for children in foster care. Recognizing the strength of the CHP, DCF has expanded funding and has established the Child and Family Nurse Program (CFNP) to address the healthcare needs of children and families under supervision in 7 counties in New Jersey. CHP understands the unique needs of families involved in the child welfare system and is well-positioned to implement a Child and Family Nurse Program. These nurses assess healthcare needs, coordinate care, and collaborate with families whose children are not in foster care placement and with caseworkers and community providers to support and strengthen these families. The aim of this initiative is to prevent disruption of families and placement of a child in foster care.
