Baltimore MATCH - Making All The Children Healthy

Foster Care Case Management

What is the MATCH Program?

The MATCH program was created to provide continuity of care by seamlessly connecting children in foster or kinship care to coordinated and comprehensive medical services.

MATCH provides medical case management and health care coordination for all children entering the foster or kinship care system.  Program staff ensure enrollment in Medical Assistance and identify with the foster or kinship care parent an appropriate managed care organization. MATCH staff also schedule and coordinate initial comprehensive medical and dental exams for each child and coordinate any needed follow-up care.  Both current and historical medical documentation is recorded and entered in CHESSIE (the Department of Social Services database.)

MATCH Program Goals

• Coordinate holistic health care for children in foster care by partnering with the foster/kinship parents, caseworkers, biological parents, managed care organizations, and health care providers.

• Assure that each child has a medical home preferably with a historic provider.  This is particularly important for children with special health care needs. 

• Assure that the health care needs of children in foster/kinship care are met in a timely manner including identifying children at risk for health issues or exacerbation of illness.

• Provide education to caregivers and children about disease management, prevention, and wellness.  Each foster/kinship care parent also receives a Health Passport with detailed information on the child's current health status.