Standardized Foster Care Trauma-Informed Assessment Workgroup Meeting | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    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 (CFSP) 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.

• NC Department of Health and Human Services
• 2001 Mail Service Center
• Raleigh, NC 27699-2001
• Ph: (919) 855-4840
• news@dhhs.nc.gov