BY CATHY HALL for WEEKLY VOLCANO 7/4/25 |
Children in foster care or who have been adopted are a unique population that require specialized health care. Removals from home or first families are rooted in traumatic experiences, and even a visit to a medical or dental clinic can be a traumatic trigger. Adequate access to high-quality care through a trauma-minimizing lens has not been available in the Tacoma community, placing the nearly 1,300 children currently in foster care in Pierce County at even higher risk. Community Health Care aimed to bridge that gap by creating the first foster/adoption clinic in Pierce County—and the only full-spectrum integrated model in the Puget Sound.
Foster Youth:
- 2× the rate of alcohol dependence
- 5× more likely to develop PTSD
- 7× the rate of drug dependence
- 10% of Pierce County’s foster kids will spend the night in a hotel
- 25% homeless within four years of aging out
- 52% of males are unemployed
- 60% of sex trafficking victims were in the foster care system
- 71% of girls are pregnant before age 21
Community Health Care is dedicated to creating a focused health care space for children and their families/caregivers in the foster–adoption spectrum. Behavioral health services will be the highlight in this therapeutic area, serving those with significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts directly related to trauma. Providing individual and family-style therapy in a nonclinical space is in line with the key principles of a trauma-healing environment. It is crucial for this clinic to feel welcoming and safe. By simply adding couches and beanbag chairs, sensory-friendly wall hangings, and educational toys that make them feel more comfortable, we help children and families better engage in the care they need to succeed in life. This space facilitates de-escalation, prevents re-traumatization, and empowers children and families to be part of treatment planning and care. The room also meets our standards for hygiene, and materials used can be sanitized between patients.
Our team follows the American Academy of Pediatrics’ health care recommendations to provide a health screening within three business days and a well-child checkup within thirty days of removal. During these visits, the team assesses the behavioral, developmental, and chronic health care needs of the child. The staff partners with case managers to help coordinate care with required specialists and acts as a continued resource for the children and biological parents. Community Health Care has also been awarded designation as a Foster Care Center of Excellence by Coordinated Care.
By the first of next year (2026), Community Health Care will open a branch of our Foster and Adoption Clinic in our new Puyallup Health Center. By fostering physical and mental health in this unique space, we set the groundwork for healthy, thriving futures for the nearly 3,800 children in Pierce County in the foster/adoption experience. We welcome anyone or any entity willing to partner with us to help provide this crucial service for the kids in Pierce County who need it most.
