Automated information sharing in foster care: perspectives on impact and expansion
IntroductionFor youth in foster care, healthcare information is often not communicated to relevant individuals, including foster caregivers and healthcare staff. Technology solutions designed to bridge that gap have been shown to increase information available, decrease time spent searching for info...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1543076/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850125092818780160 |
|---|---|
| author | Nathan M. Lutz Nathan M. Lutz Mary V. Greiner Mary V. Greiner Lisa Vaughn Amanda Schondelmeyer Elizabeth Freehling Katie Fox Sarah J. Beal Sarah J. Beal Sarah J. Beal |
| author_facet | Nathan M. Lutz Nathan M. Lutz Mary V. Greiner Mary V. Greiner Lisa Vaughn Amanda Schondelmeyer Elizabeth Freehling Katie Fox Sarah J. Beal Sarah J. Beal Sarah J. Beal |
| author_sort | Nathan M. Lutz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionFor youth in foster care, healthcare information is often not communicated to relevant individuals, including foster caregivers and healthcare staff. Technology solutions designed to bridge that gap have been shown to increase information available, decrease time spent searching for information, and improve access to services. The feasibility of technology-based information sharing has been demonstrated with caseworkers.MethodsThis qualitative study builds upon existing knowledge about the benefits of technology-based information exchange systems, utilizing interviews with healthcare staff (n = 41) and foster caregivers (n = 7). The purpose of this work is to understand their perspectives related to the utility of information-exchange technology, barriers faced, and potential improvements.ResultsThree themes were identified: (1) Impact and Benefits: The high-yield benefits of automated, on-demand information-sharing platforms for children in foster care; (2) User Experience and Efficiency: Streamlined workflows and improved outcomes; and (3) Opportunities for Platform Expansion: How information sharing can be further improved. Healthcare staff and caregivers alike said using technology to share health and child welfare information was efficient and easy in a system that is fragmented. They also identified opportunities for expansion, such as including more sources of information (e.g., information from caregivers themselves).DiscussionThese findings add to the evidence that information exchange platforms in child welfare increase the capacity of healthcare staff and caregivers while decreasing workload in an otherwise overburdened system. Expanding access to and use of information-exchange platforms in healthcare settings that serve youth in foster care may support the workforce who serve these children. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e15e5947eac4fecaa63a0de6bca83b0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2360 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-5e15e5947eac4fecaa63a0de6bca83b02025-08-20T02:34:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-05-011310.3389/fped.2025.15430761543076Automated information sharing in foster care: perspectives on impact and expansionNathan M. Lutz0Nathan M. Lutz1Mary V. Greiner2Mary V. Greiner3Lisa Vaughn4Amanda Schondelmeyer5Elizabeth Freehling6Katie Fox7Sarah J. Beal8Sarah J. Beal9Sarah J. Beal10Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesDivision of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesDivision of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesPsychology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, United StatesDivision of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesDivision of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesDivision of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesIntroductionFor youth in foster care, healthcare information is often not communicated to relevant individuals, including foster caregivers and healthcare staff. Technology solutions designed to bridge that gap have been shown to increase information available, decrease time spent searching for information, and improve access to services. The feasibility of technology-based information sharing has been demonstrated with caseworkers.MethodsThis qualitative study builds upon existing knowledge about the benefits of technology-based information exchange systems, utilizing interviews with healthcare staff (n = 41) and foster caregivers (n = 7). The purpose of this work is to understand their perspectives related to the utility of information-exchange technology, barriers faced, and potential improvements.ResultsThree themes were identified: (1) Impact and Benefits: The high-yield benefits of automated, on-demand information-sharing platforms for children in foster care; (2) User Experience and Efficiency: Streamlined workflows and improved outcomes; and (3) Opportunities for Platform Expansion: How information sharing can be further improved. Healthcare staff and caregivers alike said using technology to share health and child welfare information was efficient and easy in a system that is fragmented. They also identified opportunities for expansion, such as including more sources of information (e.g., information from caregivers themselves).DiscussionThese findings add to the evidence that information exchange platforms in child welfare increase the capacity of healthcare staff and caregivers while decreasing workload in an otherwise overburdened system. Expanding access to and use of information-exchange platforms in healthcare settings that serve youth in foster care may support the workforce who serve these children.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1543076/fullfoster careinformation-exchange platformscaregiver perspectiveshealthcare staff perspectiveschild welfare |
| spellingShingle | Nathan M. Lutz Nathan M. Lutz Mary V. Greiner Mary V. Greiner Lisa Vaughn Amanda Schondelmeyer Elizabeth Freehling Katie Fox Sarah J. Beal Sarah J. Beal Sarah J. Beal Automated information sharing in foster care: perspectives on impact and expansion Frontiers in Pediatrics foster care information-exchange platforms caregiver perspectives healthcare staff perspectives child welfare |
| title | Automated information sharing in foster care: perspectives on impact and expansion |
| title_full | Automated information sharing in foster care: perspectives on impact and expansion |
| title_fullStr | Automated information sharing in foster care: perspectives on impact and expansion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Automated information sharing in foster care: perspectives on impact and expansion |
| title_short | Automated information sharing in foster care: perspectives on impact and expansion |
| title_sort | automated information sharing in foster care perspectives on impact and expansion |
| topic | foster care information-exchange platforms caregiver perspectives healthcare staff perspectives child welfare |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1543076/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nathanmlutz automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT nathanmlutz automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT maryvgreiner automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT maryvgreiner automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT lisavaughn automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT amandaschondelmeyer automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT elizabethfreehling automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT katiefox automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT sarahjbeal automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT sarahjbeal automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion AT sarahjbeal automatedinformationsharinginfostercareperspectivesonimpactandexpansion |