Children and adolescents who enter foster care often have complicated and serious medical, mental health, developmental, oral health, and psychosocial problems that are rooted in their history of childhood history of abuse and neglect. Ideally, health care for this population is provided in a pediatric medical home by primary care providers who are familiar with the short and long term impact of childhood trauma and adversity. As youth with special health care needs, children and adolescents in foster care require more frequent monitoring of their health status, and pediatricians have a critical role in ensuring the well-being of children in out-of-home care through the provision of high-quality pediatric health services, health care coordination, and advocacy. (Source: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/136/4/e1131)
The information here is designed to be supportive to you and your practice as you treat children and adolescents in foster care. If you need assistance and cannot find what you are looking for, please reach out to us at the Office of Child Health and Well Being.
DSS NURSE CONTACT INFORMATION
UPSTATE REGION NurseUpstate@dss.sc.gov Fax: 864-282-4278
(Serving Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenwood, Greenville, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg Counties)
Elizabeth "Beth" Griffin, RN – Upstate Regional Nurse
864-467-3369 (o); 803-767-2707 (c); Elizabeth.Griffin@dss.sc.gov
Virginia "Ginny" Meritt – Health Care Data Coordinator
864-467-7822 (o); 803-351-0374 (c); Virginia.Meritt1@dss.sc.gov
MIDLANDS REGION NurseMidlands@dss.sc.gov Fax: 803-734-2863
(Serving Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lexington, McCormick, Richland, Saluda, Union, York Counties)
Nekesha Archie, RN – Midlands Regional Nurse
803-898-2298 (o); 803-873-0576 (c); Nekesha.Archie@dss.sc.gov
Latisha Watts – Health Care Data Coordinator
803-898-8941 (o); 803-394-5544 (c); Latisha.A.Watts@dss.sc.gov
LOWCOUNTRY REGION NurseLowcountry@dss.sc.gov Fax: 843-953-2561
(Serving Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton, Jasper and Orangeburg Counties)
Gretchen Cecere, RN – Lowcountry Regional Nurse
843-953-1379 (o); 843-754-7168 (c); Gretchen.Cecere@dss.sc.gov
Shalonda Bradley – Health Care Data Coordinator
843-255-6192 (o); 803-394-6312 (c); Shalonda.Bradley@dss.sc.gov
PEE DEE REGION NursePeeDee@dss.sc.gov Fax: 843-519-0840
(Serving Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Sumter and Williamsburg Counties)
Bridgett McElveen, RN – PeeDee Regional Nurse
843-519-0184 (o); 803-351-0729 (c); Bridgett.McElveen@dss.sc.gov
Casey Currie – Health Care Data Coordinator
803-773-0148 ext. 219 (o); 803-394-6042 (c); Casey.Currie@dss.sc.gov
STATEWIDE & CONGREGATE CARE LIAISON
NurseStateOffice@dss.sc.gov Fax: 803-734-2837
Rita Melton, DMD, RN – Statewide Dentist / Nurse
803-898-4227 (o); 803-767-2267 (c); Rita.Melton@dss.sc.gov
STATEWIDE NURSE MANAGER
Karen J. McDaniel, RN – Nurse Manager
864-467-4921 (o); 803-995-0751 (c); Karen.J.McDaniel@dss.sc.gov
INFORMATIONAL FLYERS
- Primary Care for Children in Foster Care (with Billing Tips)
- Select Health Care Coordination Services
Project ECHO and TeleECHO Clinics
What is Project ECHO®?
The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, or ECHO model, was developed at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Centger and is now used nationwide in the United States and internationally. The ECHO model facilitates case-based learning for front-line practitioners via teleconferencing clinics. Similar to the virtual chart rounds, the ECHO model creates a space where practitioners can share knowledge and build support to better manage patients with complex care needs. For more information on Project ECHO, please visit https://echo.unm.edu
Select Health of South Carolina, in collaboration with SCDSS and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children’s Health Department, is excited to launch TeleECHO clinics – an emerging, case-based learning model to improve health care provider’s capacity to treat children and youth in South Carolina’s foster care system.
At TeleECHO clinics, providers from multiple locations connect via teleconferencing to present de-identified patient cases to a team of peers and experts for mentoring and shared learning. Case-based discussions will also be supplemented with short didactic presentations to improve content knowledge and share evidence-based practices.
Click here for more information and the TeleECHO series schedule.
1/19/21 - Provider Resources
1/5/21 - AAP Best Practices for Children and Youth in Foster Care