HealthWorks of Illinois

Providing Healthcare Services for Foster Children

What is HealthWorks?

  • HealthWorks of Illinois is a collaborative effort of the Illinois Departments of Children and Family Services, Public Aid and Human Services to provide comprehensive health services to children in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
  • HealthWorks of Kankakee County case manages wards residing in Kankakee County.
  • The HealthWorks program has Medical Case Managers at the Health Department and uses Primary Care Physicians who are enrolled in the program.
  • Each foster child in the program will have a Primary Care Physician and a Comprehensive Health Evaluation and will receive a Health Passport which stays with the child.

What is Medical Case Management?

  • Medical case management helps to ensure foster children receive essential health care in a timely manner.
  • Medical case managers follow up on medical concerns and are available to answer questions about the health care needs of foster children.
  • Medical case managers contact the foster parent at least twice a year to discuss the foster child’s health care.
  • Medical case managers summarize the foster child’s health care for the ACR.

What is the Initial Health Screening?

  • It is the first required physical exam for children new to DCFS custody and is performed within 24 hours of custody, preferably before placement in the foster home.
  • The Initial Health Screen identifies any immediate health care needs.
  • It provides medical information to help in determining the right placement for the child.

What is the Comprehensive Medical Evaluation?

  • It is the second required physical exam for children new to DCFS custody and is performed within 21 days of Temporary Custody.
  • It includes obtaining a health history, performing an unclothed physical exam, a mental health screen for children 5 years and over, a developmental assessment for children under 6, and a vision and hearing screen for children 3 years and over.
  • The Health Passport is initiated upon completion of the evaluation.

What is the Health Passport?

  • It is a booklet which contains a summary of the foster child’s available medical history. Every foster child should have one.
  • It must be taken with the child to every doctor’s visit so it can be updated.
  • When the child moves, it is given to the new foster parent.

You Should Know…

  • Every time you receive a new foster child in your home, contact HealthWorks at (815) 802-9320.
  • Every child is to have a Primary Care Physician who is enrolled in the HealthWorks program.
  • Foster children will receive routine well child visits.
    For children under age 2
    These are to be at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months.
    For children over age 2
    They are to be yearly around their birthday.
  • Dental exams and vision and hearing screens are required yearly for all foster children age 3 and older.
  • Call Kankakee HealthWorks Medical Case Management for assistance or questions regarding your foster child’s health needs.

For more information, contact:

HealthWorks of Kankakee County
Phone: (815) 802-9320
TTY: (815) 802-9312
Fax: (815) 802-9321