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You can find official documentation and the most current reference guides on the New York State Department of Health website or the OCFS Reference Guide (PDF) .
: Ratings are translated into "action levels" to identify where immediate intervention is needed or where a child has significant strengths. Preparation Tips for Practitioners 0 (5).mp4
The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment is designed to support decision-making, such as level of care and service planning. The 0-5 version is specifically modified to be developmentally appropriate for very young children. You can find official documentation and the most
: Use empathetic listening (smiling, nodding, maintaining eye contact) to build rapport with the caregiver. The 0-5 version is specifically modified to be
Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths – New York 0-5 - OCFS
: At the end of the session, summarize both needs and strengths to help the family see the total picture, and allow them to adjust any ratings if they feel a detail was missed.
: It is a standardized tool used by Health Homes and other service providers to ensure a consistent, strength-based approach.