The Westchester County Department of Social Services announced the completion of a major renovation to its Pediatric Medical Office, which serves children from birth to age 21 in the county”™s foster care program, run by the DSS. It is housed within the agency”™s central office at 112 E. Post Road in White Plains, just steps from White Plains Hospital. The facility began offering services about 30 years ago.
The office had seen some significant wear and tear that necessitated the updates and seized the opportunity to expand when space in an adjoining office became available.
The new space allowed for the creation of private meeting rooms for families and medical staff, separate offices for medical staff, a new nursing station apart from the examining space and new storage for medical records.
In an effort to make the office more welcoming to families and the children it serves, the remodel also included bright paint and the addition of children”™s books and games.
“I am incredibly proud of the county employees at DSS and DPW&T, who worked so hard on this renovation, which ultimately helps us to better serve Westchester County”™s foster families,” County Executive George Latimer said. “This is one more wonderful way that Westchester County”™s Department of Social Services takes care of its children in foster care, making us a cut above the rest.”
According to the DSS, Westchester is one of only two counties in the state that provides comprehensive medical services to children in foster care, the other being Monroe County.
According to the county, the health care center is important for the continuous care of children in the foster system, where they can keep their care teams despite moving locations or families within the county. It allows both children and families to be familiar with the staff and have a support system familiar with themselves and their needs in the health care setting.
“The Westchester County Department of Social Services is paving the way for departments across the state, as one of only two counties that have a pediatric medical office available for children in foster care,” DSS Commissioner Leonard Townes said. “The children who come here for pediatric care are the county”™s children, they are our responsibility. Thanks to the efforts of our Public Works Department, the remodeling of this space shows that we are committed to ensuring kids are well cared for and supported.”
The renovation was completed by the county”™s Department of Public Works and Transportation, who worked during off hours so as not to disrupt medical service.
The center serves about 400 children every year, with about 230 utilizing it as their primary care center at any given time.
It provides an array of in-person medical services, including preventative care, vision screenings, hearing screenings, sick visits, vaccines, blood work and limited rapid testing.
The facility”™s staff includes two medical doctors and two administrative staff members who are employees of the Westchester Institute of Human Development and four nurses who are employees of the Department of Social Services.
Its staff is also a part of the general social services care network, working with families to access services available to them and working with the department”™s caseworkers to ensure children are cared for. They can also be involved in the Family Court process when necessary.
“We are a full-service medical unit dedicated exclusively to supporting the children and families involved in the foster care system,” said Dr. Janet Stockheim, medical director of the pediatric unit. “We”™re their medical home. In the world of social services, we”™re a rare gem, and now we”™re polished. We”™re so grateful to our Westchester County leadership.”
