Fidelity
to IP-CANS & CFT Practices
Welcome to CDSS’s Resource Page for Fidelity to Child and Family Teams (CFT) and the Integrated Practice-Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS) tool. This page supports consistent implementation of high-quality CFT and IP-CANS practices across California’s system of care. Here, you will find policy guidance, helpful tools, and training resources to help uphold and strengthen fidelity in all aspects of CFT and IP-CANS implementation.
Sometimes referred to as implementation fidelity, intervention fidelity, treatment fidelity, and treatment integrity, fidelity means the extent to which a program or intervention is delivered as it was intended to be by its developers.
When implemented with fidelity, CFTs and IP-CANS work together to guide meaningful collaboration, inform effective planning, and promote positive, sustainable outcomes for children, youth, nonminor dependents, and their families. Fidelity to these practices is essential to ensuring that services are youth and family-centered, strengths-based, culturally responsive, and aligned with each individual’s unique needs.
California Integrated Practice-Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS) and Child and Family Team (CFT) Fidelity
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Name
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Description
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Link
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Fidelity All County Letter (ACL)
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Provides updates to those working with children and families in the child welfare or juvenile probation systems about CFT and IP-CANS fidelity requirements related to the Tiered Rate Structure (TRS).
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To be added when available.
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Fidelity Plan
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Counties must use all tools within the fidelity plan to identify, describe, and analyze strengths and areas of improvement in their CFT and IP-CANS practices. The fidelity plan contains instructions and guidance for these fidelity tools.
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To be added when available.
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Name
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Description
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Timeline
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Who
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Link
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County Practice Improvement Plan (CPIP)
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The CPIP is a collaborative, organizational self-assessment tool used to evaluate CFT/IP-CANS system infrastructure, implementation, practice, and policy. Each placing agency completes it with input from contracted providers, children’s behavioral health teams, tribal agencies, and the county’s Interagency Leadership Team (ILT). When completed collaboratively, it offers a comprehensive view of strengths and areas for improvement, helping guide local and state technical assistance efforts to ensure practice fidelity.
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Completed by December 31, 2025, and then updated annually
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County Placing Agency Leaders (in collaboration with CFT & IP-CANS partners and Interagency Leadership Team)
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To be added when available.
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CFT Meeting Observation Tool
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This tool is intended to support agencies in evaluating quality of and adherence to intended practice of CFT meetings and inclusion of the IP-CANS. The tool helps agencies assess CFT meeting quality and practice by an observer evaluating the meeting. This tool is meant to capture the family’s experience and meeting effectiveness. This tool is not intended for staff performance evaluation purposes.
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Beginning December 1, 2025
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Placing Agency Designated Staff who have received training on CFT meeting facilitation.
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To be added when available.
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CFT Participant Survey
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The CFT Participant Survey allows counties to collect qualitative data from youth, professionals, and caregivers on their perspectives on strengths and areas of improvement in the CFT and IP-CANS practices.
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Beginning September 1, 2025
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Caseworkers, Facilitators
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CFT Participant Survey
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CFT Brochures
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CFT brochures for youth, professionals, and parents contain a basic overview of information related to the CFT and IP-CANS processes. CFT brochures should be provided to and reviewed with CFT members prior to the first CFT meeting to confirm their understanding of the process. This should be done with a conversation about any upcoming CFT meetings or processes (i.e., team formation) and should allow time for the recipient to ask questions.
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Beginning September 1, 2025
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Caseworkers to distribute
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CFT Brochures
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CFT Meeting Summary and Action Plan
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The standardized CFT Meeting Summary and Action Plan helps to capture CFT meeting information, record action steps, and ensure youth and family perspectives are accurately represented and linked to services.The completed summary must be attached to court reports with necessary redactions, providing key details on efforts to connect youth and families to appropriate supports. Youth, families, and Tribes (for Indian children) should have the opportunity to review and suggest edits to ensure accuracy.
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CFT Meetings on or after July 1, 2025
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Caseworkers, but can be filled out by other CFT members
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CFT Meeting Summary and Action Plan
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IP-CANS Fidelity Review Tool
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The CDSS will use the IP-CANS Fidelity Review Tool to assess the quality and consistency of IP-CANS completion. By reviewing a targeted sample of cases—prioritizing those with significant data patterns such as delayed timelines or unusual Tiered Rate Structure (TRS) distributions—the tool helps identify areas needing support. Findings may lead to technical assistance, coaching, or training to improve fidelity and better support youth and families.
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Beginning July 1, 2026
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California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
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To be added when available.
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Name
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Description
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Link
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Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) Dashboard
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The CCR Dashboard is the designated data source for monitoring CFT and IP-CANS timeliness. This visual tool presents key data indicators related to CCR and has been updated to include CFT and IP-CANS out-of-home timeliness functionality (additional functionality under development). It enables users to explore data trends at both the individual county and state levels.
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CCR Dashboard Link
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SafeMeasures
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SafeMeasures is a secure, web-based data monitoring and reporting tool designed to support placing agencies. It transforms case management data into actionable insights, helping staff track progress, and meet critical deadlines
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SafeMeasures
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Name
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Description
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Link
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Fidelity Quick Reference
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This quick reference document highlights key elements of fidelity for both CFT and IP-CANS practices. It serves as a practical tool to provide shorthand information related to the fidelity of these practices.
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To be added when available.
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IP-CANS Flyer
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This flyer provides a quick overview of the IP-CANS, including its purpose, key components, and how it supports collaborative planning and service delivery. It can be used to help youth, families, and teams better understand the IP-CANS and its role in supporting their goals.
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IP-CANS Flyer Link
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Fidelity TA Flyer
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This flyer outlines a technical assistance process to support fidelity to CFT and IP-CANS practices. Learn about training, coaching, and resources designed to strengthen implementation and improve outcomes.
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To be added when available.
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Supported Assessment - CPIP
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This supported assessment document supports TA Providers as they work with County Interagency Leadership Teams (ILT) to complete the CPIP, evaluate areas needing improvement, prioritize items to focus on, and create a plan to build the identified areas into easily accessible/centerpiece strengths.
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To be added when available.
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CPIP Data Sources
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This document provides a list of key data sources to support the development and completion of the CPIP.
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To be added when available.
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Theory of Change (TOC)
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This Theory of Change supports the effective integration of CFTs and the IP-CANS by clarifying how these practices work together to drive positive outcomes for youth and families within each county’s System of Care. It outlines key elements of how the CFT process and IP-CANS work together to achieve improved safety, permanency and well-being for children and families.
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To be added when available.
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TOC Crosswalk
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This crosswalk connects the CFT and IP-CANS TOC with relevant CPIP data sources, helping to illustrate how integrated practices and data support improved outcomes for children, youth, and families. It serves as a guide for aligning fidelity efforts with measurable indicators and reinforces the role of data in driving continuous quality improvement.
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To be added when available.
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CFT Webpage
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The CDSS CFT webpage provides guidance, tools, and resources to support effective CFT practice across California. It offers key policy documents, training information, and implementation supports to help counties and partners uphold fidelity to the CFT process.
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https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/child-and-family-teams
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IP-CANS Webpage
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The CDSS IP-CANS webpage offers essential resources to support the use of the IP-CANS tool. It includes policy guidance, training materials, and implementation supports to promote consistent, strengths-based assessment and planning across child welfare.
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https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/cans/the-cans-tool/cans-resources
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CFT & IP-CANS Resource Hub
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Built in a collaborative effort between UC Davis Human Services and the CDSS, this page serves as an access point to technical assistance, training, consultation and guidance for the implementation, practice and continuous quality improvement for CFT and IP-CANS.
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https://humanservices.ucdavis.edu/northern-academy/cft-cans-resources
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CFT CANS Statewide Forum
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This is an open forum facilitated by UC Davis Northern Academy in partnership with the CDSS that meets quarterly to convene stakeholders from across the state to share information and engage stakeholders in discussions that support the evolution of policy and practice.
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CFT CANS Statewide Forum Invite Request Form
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Name
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Description
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Link
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Technical Assistance Guides
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These technical assistance guides offer practical support for implementing high-quality CFT and IP-CANS practices. They provide clear guidance, tools, and best practices to help counties strengthen fidelity.
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To be added when available.
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Technical Assistance Request (Airtable)
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Counties can request support for CFT and IP-CANS practices by submitting a Technical Assistance request through the Airtable form. This streamlined process helps connect teams with the appropriate resources, coaching, or guidance needed to enhance practice.
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To be added when available.
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CalAcademies (formerly Regional Training Academies)
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Serving distinct regions, each CalAcademy provides tailored training, coaching, and technical assistance to child serving agencies (child welfare and juvenile probation, and their partners), ensuring that staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to support children, youth, and families effectively through CFT and IP-CANS practices.
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https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/cans/training-and-certification
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Praed Foundation
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The Praed Foundation offers support for the training, certification, and completion of the IP-CANS. They provide online training, certification, and recertification through TCOMtraining.com, along with technical assistance and coaching for users and agencies. Additionally, the TCOM Conversations platform offers resources, discussions, and updates on TCOM practices.
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Support for accessing the online training site and setting up/editing user accounts: support@tcomtraining.com. Support for passing the certification exam and questions about the content and rating of the IP-CANS: coaching@tcomtraining.com.
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CDSS
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The CDSS is available to provide ongoing support to counties in implementing high-quality CFT and IP-CANS practices. CDSS offers technical assistance, guidance, and resources to strengthen fidelity. Counties can access support through technical assistance requests, regular CFT and IP-CANS webinars, and email communication with CDSS staff. For more information on IP-CANS and CFTs, please visit: https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-care/child-and-family-teams/professional-resources and https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/child-and-family-teams.
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CWScoordination@dss.ca.gov
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