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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.

When preparing to conduct a CANS assessment for a young child, practitioners are encouraged to follow these guidelines: 0 (5).mp4

: Ratings are translated into "action levels" to identify where immediate intervention is needed or where a child has significant strengths. Preparation Tips for Practitioners The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)

: 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. Preparation Tips for Practitioners : At the end

: Use empathetic listening (smiling, nodding, maintaining eye contact) to build rapport with the caregiver.

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) .