Healthy Horizons Assessment Center

at the DC Child and Family Services Agency

400 6th Street SW, First Floor OPENING
DECEMBER 14, 2009
202-442-4200
Ensuring good health for District children and youth entering out-of-home care

Beginning December 14, 2009, at 12:01 a.m., initial health assessments for children and youth
entering out-of-home care or changing to a different placement will move from the Children’s
National Medical Center (THEARC or emergency room) to the Healthy Horizons Assessment
Center at the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA).

Services Pre-Placement Health Screening: Every child/youth needs a health screening before
entering out-of home placement for the first time or changing to a different placement.
and Hours This service will be available 24 hours a day 365 days a year without an appointment.

Comprehensive Health Screening: Every child/youth needs a comprehensive health

screening within 14 days of entering out-of-home care. This screening replaces the
Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) examination formerly
required within 30 of entry into care. Comprehensive health screenings will be available
by appointment from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Every child/youth in out-of-home care has medical coverage via Medicaid. CFSA Child
Protective Services (CPS) social workers should continue to use the emergency room at
Children’s National Medical Center for medical-legal examinations and/or to treat
children/youth with serious injuries or illnesses. After initial assessments at the Healthy
Horizons Center, caregivers should continue to seek routine and special medical
services for foster children/youth from primary care physicians (PCPs) who accept
Medicaid. Healthy Horizons will not provide ongoing medical care for children/youth or
any personal health services for adults, including CFSA employees.

Staff A team of two—a nurse practitioner and a medical assistant—will be on duty at Healthy
Horizons at all times. Nurse practitioners are licensed and fully qualified to conduct pre-
placement and comprehensive health screenings. Medical assistants will provide both
clinical and administrative support. The team will deliver quality health screenings and
good customer service in a professional and friendly atmosphere.

Location Healthy Horizons is on the first floor at CFSA headquarters, 400 6th Street SW,
Washington, DC. From the CFSA lobby, enter through the door behind the reception
desk, and follow the signs to the Healthy Horizons waiting room.

Parking From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding government holidays), two
parking spaces will be available in the CFSA garage for private-agency social workers
and caregivers bringing children/youth to the Healthy Horizons Assessment Center.
Entrance to the garage is off Virginia Avenue SW via the driveway directly behind the
CFSA building. Drive down to the second (lower) garage entrance, turn into the garage,
and stop. Wait for one of the CFSA employees stationed there to give you a parking
pass and direct you to a parking space. Be sure to display the parking pass in the car
while parked in the garage. Take an elevator or the stairway to the first floor of CFSA.

At other times, park on the street outside CFSA, and enter through the front door.
Procedures Pre-Placement Health Screening (for children/youth entering care for the first time or
changing to a different placement): No appointment necessary. Social workers should
simply call Healthy Horizons at 202-442-4200 to say they are enroute and bringing
children/youth for a pre-placement health screen. At that time, private-agency social
workers should also ask for garage parking, if they need it.

Upon arrival, private-agency social workers should sign in at the CFSA reception desk
in the first-floor lobby. A receptionist or security guard will admit you through the security
door. Follow the signs to the Healthy Horizons waiting room. CFSA social workers may
proceed directly to Healthy Horizons.

Comprehensive Health Screening (for children/youth within 14 days of initial entry

into out-of-home care): The Healthy Horizons medical assistant will contact both the
social worker and caregiver to schedule an appointment for the child/youth within 14
days of initial entry into placement. At the same time, the medical assistant will schedule
an appointment for the child/youth to receive a dental examination at a provider who
accepts Medicaid and a mental health assessment from DC Department of Mental
Health personnel on-site at CFSA. Children/youth in care deserve good health and well
being, so it is imperative for social workers and caregivers to work together to ensure
children/youth keep these appointments.

Upon arrival at CFSA for a comprehensive health screening appointment, private-

agency social workers and caregivers should sign in at the reception desk in the first-
floor lobby. A receptionist or security guard will admit you through the security door.
Follow the signs to the Healthy Horizons waiting room. CFSA social workers may
proceed directly to Healthy Horizons.

Advantages The professional and friendly Healthy Horizons Assessment Center at CFSA will offer
several service enhancements.
• Extended hours—8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week—give caregivers more
convenient options for scheduling and keeping appointments for 14-day
comprehensive health screenings.
• Outreach from Healthy Horizons medical assistants will support social workers and
caregivers in ensuring children/youth receive the full complement of initial health
services—medical, dental, and mental health—in a timely manner.
• Healthy Horizons staff will contact birth parents to collect health and mental health
histories for children/youth to support better placement decisions and good ongoing
medical care.
• Social workers, birth parents, and caregivers may call the Health Support Line, 202-
442-4200, any time for expert assistance in managing health issues of
children/youth in care, to ask questions, or to obtain health information.
• Periodically, Healthy Horizons will offer short information sessions or release
information about health topics to inform social workers, birth parents, and
caregivers and to enhance the well being of children/youth in care.

Additional For answers to questions or additional information about CFSA’s Healthy Horizons
Assessment Center, contact Cheryl Durden, Health Program Manager, CFSA Office of
Information Clinical Practice, 202-727-7049, cheryl.durden@dc.gov. ¡