ABSTRACT
Each year the number of children who enter the foster care system grows because the number of children who are vulnerable to abuse,neglect and/or poverty grows. Children with disabilities are a particularly vulnerable subset of this already vulnerable population. What are the implications of conceptual and methodological issues in theories of disability for estimates of children with disabilities in foster care? To what extent do children in the foster care system have disabilities? What are implications of existing health care coverage strategies (Medicaid, managed care, etc.)for the health and well-being of foster care children with disabilities? Conceptual and operational definitions of disability are reviewed. Descriptive statistics based on a secondary analysis of 1998 administrative AFCARS data are used to summarize the extent of disabilities. In addition, existing empirical studies and public policies on national and state health care insurance strategies are analyzed. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address:<docdelivery@haworthpress.com> Website: <https://www.HaworthPress.com" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">https://www.HaworthPress.com.>?2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
