RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is hosting a virtual meeting on Friday, March 1, 2024, for the Standardized Foster Care Trauma-Informed Assessment Workgroup. This is the first meeting of the workgroup, which will meet monthly to develop a standardized, trauma-informed assessment for children and youth who enter foster care.
The meeting will take place on Friday, March 1, 11 a.m.–noon, on Microsoft Teams. During the meeting, NCDHHS and its co-host, Benchmarks, will review the legislation, guiding principles for the workgroup, workgroup structure and timelines for deliverables. To register, click here.
To join the meeting on March 1 at 11 a.m.:
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device:
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 277 708 882 321
Passcode: G66PXF
Join with a video conferencing device:
ncgov@m.webex.com
Video Conference ID: 119 196 269 2
Or call in (audio only):
United States, Raleigh +1 984-204-1487,,571152695#
Phone Conference ID: 571 152 695#
The 2023 North Carolina state budget includes $750,000 in nonrecurring funds each year for the 2023-2025 fiscal years to develop a foster care trauma-informed assessment to be implemented in September 2025. The workgroup tasked with developing the standardized assessment is made up of representatives from NCDHHS; prepaid health plans and primary care case management entities that serve children in foster care and children at risk of entry into foster care; county departments of social services; Benchmarks, a nonprofit corporation; individuals with lived experience; and others identified by the workgroup based on their expertise.
The trauma-informed assessment will ensure children and youth ages 4-17 being placed into foster care receive a standardized assessment, informed by evidence-based practice, within 10 working days of a referral. Additionally, all children and youth who are included in a Medicaid Children and Families Specialty Plan will receive a trauma-informed assessment, regardless of their placement type.
For a full list of legislative requirements for the workgroup and the foster care trauma-informed assessment, refer to Session Law 2023-134, Section 9J.12.
