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

Healthcare professional interacting with child Pursuant to the Continuum of Care Reform (CCR), county child welfare agencies are implementing the California Integrated Practice – Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS) Assessment tool.According to its developer, John Lyons, the IP-CANS is a multi-purpose tool that supports decision-making, including level of care and service planning, which allows for the monitoring and outcome of services.When used as part of the CFT process, as California is doing, the IP-CANS Assessment can help guide conversations among CFT members about the well-being of children and youth, identify their strengths and needs, inform and support care coordination, aid in case planning activities, and inform decisions about placement.

IP-CANS Resources

IP-CANS Manual/ Reference Guide
The IP-CANS Rating Sheet- English | Spanish (pdf)
Local Regional Training Academies
Alameda TCOM Website
IP-CANS Flyer (pdf)

IP-CANS Videos and Webinars

IP-CANS for Administrators(1:50:09)
IP-CANS Technical Assistance Webinar 9-5-2018 (1:47:52)
Dr. Lyon on IP-CANS(3:11)
IP-CANS within the CFT Process(2:33)
How and When is the IP-CANS Completed?(1:58)
How is the IP-CANS Presented in a CFT?(3:27)
How is the IP-CANS Updated?(1:00)
What is the Supervisors Role in the IP-CANS?(1:21)
A Quality IP-CANS Assessment, TCOM Style
Learning From the Counties:

Other

Praed Foundation
The Praed Foundation is a public charitable foundation committed to improving the well-being of all through the use of personalized, timely and effective interventions.

IP-CANS, LCA, and DSM Overview Webinar Recording

Decision Support Model

Decision Support Model County Distribution Request Process:

Thank you for your interest in obtaining the Decision Support Model (DSM) level distribution for your agency. Before submitting your request, we first ask that you review the linked Integrated Practice – Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS) and LCA overview flyer to familiarize yourself with how the DSM illustrates the distributions of need and strengths for children, youth and Non-Minor Dependents (NMD)’s in foster care in your county. Additionally, we recommend you view the informational video presented by Dr. John Lyons (Director of the Center for Innovation in Population Health) which describes how IP-CANS data can translate into person centered supports and services.

Only counties can request their own DSM level distributions.

To receive meaningful DSM level distributions, please ensure the IP-CANS for your county are current and up to date in CARES-Live. CDSS receives the IP-CANS data required to conduct the DSM group distributions from CARES-Live. Child Welfare Agencies are required to enter completed IP-CANS in accordance with ACL 21-27.

Once you’ve completed the steps above and verified your IP-CANS are entered into CARES-Live, please submit your request for the DSM level distributions using this link: IP-CANS Decision Support Model County Distribution Request Form (alchemer.com)

*Notice: The DSM level distribution should not be used to inform county level fiscal policy. The findings are only intended to inform current trends within the population.

CDSS is capturing requests in the order received and will coordinate with the point of contact identified once your analysis is ready. If you have any questions, please email the Integrated Services Unit at CWScoordination@dss.ca.gov

Latent Class Analysis: LCA Overview