Safe Children Coalition Launches New In-House Medical Program

April 17, 2024 – Sarasota

Child welfare organization Safe Children Coalition (SCC) has recently created an in-house Medical Program to assist children and young adults in the Community Based Care system in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, as well those children and young adults who receive child welfare benefits post-adoption or Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) closure, with accessing healthcare services.

Through nurse care coordination, clients receive routine assessment of health care needs, including routine wellness and dental care. Nurses and their support team provide member/caregiver education (including education on healthcare benefits), follow-up post hospital visits, assistance with referrals and appointments as needed, help in accessing medical supplies and medications, and more. Nurses also collaborate closely with the client’s child welfare specialty plan for pregnant and postpartum clients, medical foster care clients, and clients receiving private duty nursing.

Overseeing the medical team is recently hired Medical Program Nursing Director Jennifer Edgson, BSN, RN, CCM. Edgson has over 20 years’ experience working within managed care to coordinate services for children and young adults with complex medical issues and/or who are part of Florida’s dependency system. She has previously served as a Healthcare Consultant for Community Based Care Integrated Health, Inc. (Orlando), Nursing Supervisor for Westcoast Access to Children’s Health, Inc. (Sarasota), and as a Registered Nurse in float pools at numerous community hospitals in numerous locations across the country, including Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She is a Certified Case Manager and was recognized in 2022 with the Embrace Families Employees’ Choice Award.

As Nursing Director, Edgson oversees the Child Welfare nursing department and overall nursing operations of the SCC Medical Program, including medical and dental, and works closely with the Behavioral Health Team. Her duties include evaluating and directing all medical program employees, establishing goals for the program, and creating and enforcing compliant healthcare policies and procedures as well as tracking outcomes.

“There are many challenges in ensuring that youth in our care receive the healthcare they need. Children in foster care are at greater risk than children who live with their biological families due to previous neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse, exposure to violence, and other psychosocial and environmental challenges, including traumatic stress,” said Brena Slater, president and CEO of Safe Children Coalition. “By having a medical team in-house, supervised by a professional with extensive experience in coordinated healthcare for at-risk children and young adults, our goal is to be able to respond quickly and effectively to healthcare needs and increase the possibility that youth can enjoy a happy, healthy future.”

For more information, visit sccfl.org.