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Central California Training Academy

The Integrated Practice Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS) Tool

"Because Children and Families Matter"

How services are provided to children and their families has been a recurring dilemma for the Child Welfare System. The State of California has been responding to this for over thirty years. Multiple initiatives have been employed with the intent to develop a more responsive system that addresses the needs of children and their families utilizing a more holistic approach. The Integrated Practice Child and Adolescent Needs and Strength (IP-CANS) and THE CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM (CFT) represent the framework that has been determined to be the means by which California can actualize the CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM (CCR) that was codified into state law.

IP-CANS represents an approach to services, consistent with the Core Practice Model (CPM) that engages children and their families and encourages communication across systems with an emphasis on the inclusion of the voices of those who are recipients of services. The goal is to help families move towards transformation. It provides and encourages those involved to inform their own futures in the delineation of the Care Plan rather than a system’s driven service approach.

 

The following information is intended to provide potential IP-CANS users and/or trainers with a brief description of the three (3) training modules included in the IP-CANS curriculum for the State of California. The curriculum was developed through a collaborative effort between the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the California CalAcademies, the Statewide CANS/CFT Implementation Team –Workforce Development Subgroup, and the John Praed Foundation. It supports California’s efforts to meet the vision of Continuum of Care Reform (CCR), the implementation of a trauma informed Systems of Care approach (AB 2083) and is reflected in the Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM).

The IP-CANS is a multi-purpose tool designed to be the output of a collaborative assessment process. It supports care planning and decision-making, facilitates quality improvement initiatives, and allows for the monitoring of outcomes and services. These efforts articulate the shared values, core components, and standards of practice grounded and demonstrated in current research. The findings speak to how collaborative and integrated family services work best in meeting the complex needs of children, youth, non-minor dependents, and families involved with multiple government funded entities.

This video is provided as a way of improving your access to the TCOM Training website.

PLEASE NOTE THAT CERTIFICATION IS A SEPARATE PROCESS AND IS PROVIDED BY PRAED ON THE TCOM WEBSITE.

6 Hours

Course Description: This is a one-day training workshop for child welfare social workers, mental health plan clinicians, juvenile probation staff, Child and Family Team facilitators, supervisors and community partners who will be supporting the IP-CANS and do not need to be certified in the tool. This module includes instruction and practice in the use of the IP-CANS in practice, including case/treatment planning. This module does not include explicit instruction on completing the tool and does not provide IP- CANS certification preparation.

Prerequisite: None

This module does not include elicit instruction on completing the tool and does not provide IP-CANS certification preparation.

Course Description: IP-CANS: Overview and Preparation for Certification, (previously Module B), is a two-day training workshop for child welfare social workers, mental health plan clinicians who will be completing and using the IP-CANS, and for child welfare supervisors who oversee case planning. This module includes instruction and practice on completing the IP-CANS, and using it in case or treatment planning. Preparation for the IP-CANS certification test process is provided. This is the only module that prepares individuals for IP-CANS certification.
 

Prerequisite: None

This is the only module that prepares individuals for CANS certification.

Course Description: (formerly Module C) is a one-day training module for supervisors to support child welfare social workers, mental health plan clinicians, juvenile probation staff, and CFT facilitators in their use of the CANS in child welfare and mental health practice.

Prerequisite: P-CANS: Supporting Collaborative Assessment and Action Planning (previously module A) or IP-CANS: Overview and Preparation for Certification (previously Module B).

All County Letters and Notices

  • ACL 25-10
    Updated Requirements for Administration of the Integrated Practice-Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Tool and Child and Family Teams.

  • ACIN I-35-24
    New Resources Available to Enhance Fidelity and Support of Child and Family Team (CFT) Meetings and the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)

  • ACL 21-27
    Child Welfare Requirements for Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) training, certification, and entry of CANS data into the CARES-Live system

  • ACL 18-09/MHSUDS IN 18-007
    Requirements for Implementing the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment Tool Within a Child and Family Team.

  • ACL 18-81
    Requirements and Guidelines for Implementing the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Assessment Tool Within a Child and Family Team (CFT) Process.

  • ACL 18-85/MHSUDS IN 18-029
    Clarification Regarding Sharing of CANS Assessments by County Placing Agencies and Mental Health Programs.

  • ACIN I-21-18/MHSUDS IN 18-022
    The California Children, Youth, and Families Integrated Core Practice Model and the California Integrated Training Guide.

Additional Web Resources

An Introduction to the three-video Series covering CANS Implementation for the California Department of Social Services

1. The CANS in Emergency Response

2. The CANS in CFT Meetings

3. The CANS in Interim CFT Meetings