The Florida Department of Health operates the Medical Foster Care Program, which places foster children with medical conditions in family environments. The program aims to provide these children with care and support outside of institutional settings.
Officials say there is a need for more families to participate as medical foster care parents. "It takes a lot to be a medical foster care parent. A lot of hugs. A lot of hard work. A lot of heart. It’s work with purpose and meaning," according to the department.
The program highlights both the challenges and rewards involved in caring for children with significant health needs. "Because what you give to a child with needs bigger than your own is the chance to thrive. Yes, there are days of challenge and change. But the rewards outweigh the work when you know you hold the heart of a child in the palm of your hand. And they hold yours too."
Recruitment efforts are ongoing due to some foster parents adopting their charges, which reduces available homes for new children needing medical foster care placements. "We are recruiting new families for the very best of reasons: As parents foster children with medical needs, they fall in love, and in some cases, they adopt. This means the family may not have room in their home to care for another child in need of medical foster care. By recruiting and training more parents, we increase the number of nurturing homes available to children in need."
The Medical Foster Care Program is managed through collaboration between several state agencies: the Florida Department of Health, Agency for Health Care Administration, and Department of Children and Families.