CANS Best Practices: In the Words of Direct Service Providers

In 2018 WestCoast Children’s Clinic began a partnership with Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) to conduct semi-annual mental health wellness screenings, using the Integrated Practice Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS).

The SSA-CANS clinicians—Dr. Nimi Briggs, Ms. Azita Azizi, Ms. Angelia Fleury, Ms. Stacey Hellender, and Dr. Lexie Guenther— shared their perspectives on best practices, both using the CANS collaboratively with families and in participating in CFT meetings. Below are their words of wisdom:

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What are your best practices for completing a CANS collaboratively with a client/family? 
When meeting with a client/family it can be helpful to start by clarifying our role, the purpose of CANS and the goals of the assessment. Review the limits of confidentiality and informed consent. This is their assessment and should be treated as such. Meet the client where they are at, use their words, and allow them to drive the conversation. Be flexible and creative in your methods of gathering information throughout the process. Highlight their strengths and guide identification of goals. Encourage self advocacy. Be open to feedback and suggestions. We are there to assist in connecting to resources or placing referrals. Our role is to support the client/family, listen and learn.

What are your best practices for attending a CFT meeting with a client/family? 
It's important to set the tone at the very start of a Child and Family Team Meeting. As clinicians we ensure that the entire team is aware of the purpose of SSA CANS service. We make it clear that SSA CANS is not a mental health service but is focused on strengths, empowering clients and families, recognizing challenges and setting goals. We also acknowledge the efforts of clients and caregivers in completing the SSA CANS as this process is time consuming particularly for families facing complex systems. Acknowledging this effort helps to build rapport and shows appreciation for their participation in the process. We encourage the family and others to share strengths, needs, and any challenges they may be facing so that we can better advocate for their needs.

More SSA IP-CANS Resources