Don’t Miss the Memo! ACBHD Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Requirement

To: ACBHD All Providers
From: Laphonsa Gibbs, Director, ACBHD Child and Young Adult System of Care

Memo Highlights:
Effective October 6, 2025, under your contract, the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) requirements will change. Only the IP-CANS questions will be required as part of the transition toward implementing a “One CANS per youth” model for ages 6-21 years. The CANS must be completed by the mental health provider at intake, every 6 months, at discharge, and annually. ...
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... ACBHD will require completion of the IP-CANS. At the same time, we recognize that individual agencies may choose the approach that best fits their practice. Agencies may continue encouraging staff to complete the full Alameda Birth-24 CANS version, or they may decide to focus on completing only the IP-CANS items. Our goal is to provide flexibility while ensuring consistency on required elements. ...

See memo for more details including Data Entry of CANS and PSC-35- CHANGES TO OA.

​Please contact Jessica Vigil if you have any questions related to CANS or Objective Arts navigation support at [email protected]. 

Attachments
• IP-CANS Rating Sheet- English | Spanish (pdf) (other threshold languages will be coming soon)
• IP-CANS Manual English (other threshold languages will be coming soon)

Reach out!

>>> Specific to the Alameda Birth-24 CANS (not included in the IP-CANS): 
All Extension Modules:

• A. Daycare/Preschool (Ages 0-5)
• B. School (Ages 6-24)
• C. Developmental Needs (All Ages)
• D. Substance Use Disorder (Ages 6-24)
• E. Suicide Risk (Ages 6-24)
• F. Dangerousness/Violence (Ages 6-24)
• ​G. Vocational/Career (Ages 18-24)

The Following Domains:

• 6. Developmental Factors/Milestones (Optional, Ages 6-24)
• 9. Traumatic Stress Symptoms (Ages 6-24)
• 10. Transition Age Youth (Ages 18-24)

The Following Items in the Behavioral/Emotional Needs Domain (Ages 0-5): 

• Motor, Aggression, Autism Spectrum

The Following Items in the Risk Behaviors & Factors Domain (Ages 0-5):

• Maternal/Primary Caregiver Availability

​The Following Item in the Cultural Factors Domain (Ages 0-24):

• Cultural Diffs. within the Family