In the fall of 2007, Wisconsin began to pilot the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths for children and youth with mental health challenges (CANS-MH) as an evaluation tool to be used by Coordinated Services Team (CST) Initiatives during the initial child and family assessment process, and as an ongoing communication and evaluation tool. Over 200 individuals were trained to utilize the CANS-MH with children and families in a collaborative team setting.
In the fall of 2010, the Wisconsin Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) adopted a Comprehensive version of the CANS (CANS-Comp) for use statewide in its out-of-home care system. After input from CST sites across the state, the decision was made by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to transition from use of the CANS-MH to use of the CANS-Comp. This switch is seen as an important step in cross-system collaboration, and progress toward the goal of a single cross-system assessment and plan of care for children and families involved in multiple systems of care.
The tools below have been designed to help integrate the CANS-Comp into the CST assessment and planning processes. These tools are also compatible with the DCFS tools.
In order to utilize the CANS-Comp tool or to complete the "CST Assessment Summary of Strengths and Needs - CANS-Comprehensive", individuals must be certified as "reliable CANS raters", and receive annual recertification. The Coordinated Services Team (CST) Initiative is collaborating with DCFS’s training resources, including their “CANS Tool Online Training and Certification” system. Although this system was primarily developed for child welfare workers, the approach, rating of the tool’s items, and usefulness of the tool should be consistent across systems. We are in the process of developing supplemental training tools/opportunities for CST sites including more information on utilizing the CANS-Comp as part of the collaborative CST process.
Instructions for Certification and Recertification
Please click on the following like to begin the CANS-Comp certification or recertification process: CANS Tool Online Training and Certification
Because the DCFS CANS training system does not currently include information on how to rate specific items, it may be helpful to view the web training videos previously developed for the CANS-MH, as most of these items are included in the current CANS-Comp tool. To view these videos, follow this link: CANS-MH Web Training Videos, then enter "CANS" in the search field.
What if I don’t pass the test vignette?
Review relevant parts of the CANS manual and website again. To talk to someone directly about questions you have about the CANS, contact Tim Connor at tim.connor@wisconsin.gov or 608-261-6744. Then take a second test vignette.
How are annual recertifications handled?
You will be responsible for completing another CANS test vignette 12 months after your first test. You are responsible for returning to the CANS training website to review the information and request another test vignette. It is possible that the test vignette process may be more automated in the future, but for now, plan to initiate your own request for another test vignette 12 months after your initial test.
What additional information and ongoing support is available?
Click on the links below for information on research published regarding the validity and reliability of the CANS:
Measurement as Communication in Outcomes Management: The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths
CANS Bibliography
Chapter 5: The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths
Accompanying Tables
Note: this document is a chapter from Dr. John Lyons' upcoming book, "Communimetrics…" that deals exclusively with the CANS. It is still in draft form and has not yet been published (as of 1/30/09). The book is expected to be published in Spring 2009.
For more information on the Wisconsin's use of the CANS, please contact:
Tim Connor at: tim.connor@wisconsin.gov, (608) 261-6744
For more information on the WI Department of Children and Families' use of the CANS in the Child Welfare system, click HERE.
For more information on the CANS, including instruments that are specific to the needs of the child welfare, juvenile justice, substance abuse, and developmental disability populations go to
www.praedfoundation.org, or contact:
John S. Lyons, Ph.D.
Endowed Chair of Child and Youth Mental Health
University of Ottawa/Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
401 Smyth Road K1H 8Li
Ottawa, ON
(613) 737-7600 x4860
jlyons@uottawa.ca
praedfoundation@yahoo.com
www.praedfoundation.org