Using the CANS – F to Support In-Home Child Welfare Services Tim Kelly, MS, Department of Social and Health Services Children’s Administration 11th Annual TCOM/CANS Conference 1

System Overview Children’s Administration (CA) is the Washington State administered child welfare system. The state is divided into three regions – Regional Administrators oversee – Responsible for child safety, permanency, and well-being Headquarters staff provide support and direction 2

In-Home Services CA staff assess and identify conditions impacting child safety Families with an open and active case receive in-home services to: – Prevent placement – Support reunification In-Home Services are delivered by contractors in the child’s home 3

Service Planning Contractors work with families and CA to – develop an intervention plan – provide clinical services to maintain or restore safety Historically: – Individual assessments were used – Approach to intervention varied 4

CANS – F The Washington State CANS-F – developed in 2012 – implemented in 2013 Targets areas connected to child safety – Screening for services delivered through other agencies (e.g. mental health and substance abuse) Used with – Family Preservation Services – Triple P – Promoting First Relationships – Crisis Family Intervention 5

CANS-F con’t Increased use of EBP’s – Resulted in reduced use of traditional Family Preservation Services – Highlighted challenges matching EBPs to families with complex, multi-faceted needs 6

Family Preservation Resource Library The Resource Library preservation-libraryResource Library preservation-library – Based on concept of Essential Elements – Connects CANS items with evidence informed strategies 7

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