Effects of AIDS, cocaine, and family violence on children in out of home care.

The medical practitioner encounters more medical and psychological illness in foster children than in the general population. The number and complexity of problems in foster children and their families has been increased by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, cocaine, and family violence. Clinicians who are aware of the high rate of chronic medical problems in foster children will be prepared to diagnose, treat, and coordinate care and follow-up. It is helpful to understand the vulnerability of foster children to emotional disturbance both as a result of family dysfunction which necessitated placement and as a morbidity of the psychological stress of the crisis of placement with subsequent risk of deterioration in foster care. Practitioners' formal knowledge of the problems of foster children and of the structure of the child welfare system promotes appropriate patient care and better directed advocacy.