Dear Collaborative… Fall '18 Edition

In the Dear Collaborative column, we’ll answer YOUR questions about TCOM or the TCOM tools (CANS, ANSA-T, ANSA).
 
Have questions and want answers?  Submit your questions through the Contact page and look for the answer in the next edition of Dear Collaborative. Submissions are treated confidentially.

Q1: I need to certify or recertify for CANS on Schoox. Do I have to do all the learning modules to do so?
A1: No, even though you see the 68 learning modules that provide helpful videos and quizzes on all domains in the CANS, you can scroll past any and all modules you don’t feel you’d like to review. Scroll all the way down to step 68 if you wish and click directly on the “certification exam” and then click “start vignette” for initial certifications or “retake vignette” for recertifications and you’ll be ready to go!
 
Q2: What is the point of the CANS/ANSA? Why do we do it?
A2: The CANS/ANSA helps us make sure we aren't missing part of the picture and are assessing and capturing all areas of risk and strength in a collaborative process with all stakeholders. The CANS/ANSA tool assists us to organize client needs and strengths and gives us a clear metric to help create shared language in treatment planning and track progress throughout our work. CANS/ANSA help protect against clinician and referral source bias, and protect against the ways systems can over and under diagnose client strengths/challenges based on cultural assumptions and personal bias.  The CANS/ANSA manuals give us clear definitions for each rating item. Using CANS/ANSA provides a framework to see change over time which makes it easier to discuss with the client/family the progress that is being made in treatment.
 
Q3: I can’t get past the “I am not a robot” in the Schoox registration process. I am NOT a robot! What do I do?
A3: This is a browser compatibility problem that is easily fixed. Please use Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer-Edge. If you are having trouble with Internet Explorer, you are most likely using an old outdated version. Please upgrade to the newest version, called Edge, or switch to one of the other compatible browsers listed above. You can always seek assistance from support@TCOMTraining.com as well if needed.

Q4: I can’t pass the exam and I don’t know what to do!
A4: There are a couple things you can do to improve your chances of passing next time:

• Take your time (you have 2 full hours available) and print out the manual and rating form.
• Remember that action overrides anchor definitions always. Don’t get stuck on the “anchors” (aka the descriptions for each action level within a given item) and instead focus on the action levels. Ask yourself if this is something you would check on (rating 1) or something you would definitely intervene on (rating 2) or urgently intervene on (rating 3).
• Attend an in-person certification training: trainings are listed on the Alameda TCOM training calendar  and on the Schoox site with on-line registration available.

 
Each newsletter will feature top questions that are submitted to the Alameda TCOM Collaborative. If you have an urgent or critical CANS/ANSA -related question, you can contact your agency's CANS/TCOM Coordinator or one of the Collaborative Members.

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