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July 19, 2024

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ALL COUNTY INFORMATION NOTICE NO. I-35-24

The ACIN outlines available resources to enhance the engagement and participation of
families, Tribes, natural supports, system partners, and other participants in the Child and

Family Team (CFT) and Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths tool (CANS)
processes.


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RY CALIFORNIA HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
ar

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

CDSS 744 P Street * Sacramento, CA 95814 * www.cdss.ca.gov
ie
KIM JOHNSON GAVIN NEWSOM
DIRECTOR GOVERNOR
July 19, 2024

ALL COUNTY INFORMATION NOTICE (ACIN) NO. 1-35-24

TO: ALL COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS
ALL CHIEF PROBATION OFFICERS
ALL INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM MANAGERS
ALL ADOPTION REGIONAL AND FIELD OFFICES
ALL INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM COORDINATORS
ALL FOSTER CARE MANAGERS
ALL TITLE IV-E AGREEMENT TRIBES
ALL TRANSITIONAL HOUSING COORDINATORS
ALL FOSTER FAMILY AGENCIES
ALL SHORT TERM RESIDENTAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS

SUBJECT: NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ENHANCE FIDELITY AND
SUPPORT OF CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM (CFT) MEETINGS
AND THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT NEEDS AND
STRENGTHS (CANS)

REFERENCE: ALL COUNTY LETTER (ACL) 16-84, ACL 18-23, ACL 18-09,
ACL 18-81, ACL 18-85, ACL 21-113, ACL 21-27, ACL 22-35

PURPOSE

The purpose of this All County Information Notice (ACIN) is to share newly developed
resources for enhancing fidelity and support of Child and Family Team (CFT) Meetings and
the California Integrated Practice Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS,
herein referred to as CANS).

BACKGROUND

From 2018 to 2023, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) convened the
CFT and CANS Implementation Team to collaboratively identify and address barriers and
gaps to full scale implementation of CFT and CANS practices across the State. The
Implementation Team identified a need for universal engagement and informational tools
and training that could be accessed and shared by all system partners responsible for
implementing CFTs and CANS. This letter presents the deliverables developed through that
collaboration.

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THE CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM (CFT)

Engaging families, Tribes, natural supports, system partners and other participants in the
CFT and CANS processes is essential to successfully uplift and integrate the voices and
preferences of youth and family members into comprehensive and achievable case plan
goals. Furthermore, CFT meeting participation data has shown that natural supports, such
as family, Tribes, and other members important to the family, are not consistently engaged
and included in CFT meetings. Engaging and including these key CFT members in case
planning with the family is essential to individualize the support provided to families.
According to ACL 22-35, and as outlined in the Tribal Engagement Guide in the case of an
Indian child, the child’s Tribe is a required member of the CFT. Additionally, the case worker
should make every effort to allow for the Tribe or Tribal representative to participate in the
CFT meeting, including telephonic, digitally, or virtually access to the CFT meeting.
Resources outlined in this letter were developed to support engagement, participation, and
inclusion of members’ perspectives during the CFT, CANS, and case planning processes.

General guidance related to the requirements and role of CFTs in child welfare can be
found in ACL 16-84 and ACL 22-35. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding CFT
practice are found in ACL 18-23. Additionally, ACL 21-113 provides guidance regarding the
CFT requirements within the Qualified Individual (Ql) assessment process for youth being
considered for placement in a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP).

THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENTS NEEDS AND STRENGTHS (CANS)

General guidance related to the requirements for the completion of CANS and how it is
shared, discussed, and used within the CFT process to support case planning and care
coordination can be found in ACL 18-81, ACL 18-85, and ACL 18-09. ACL 21-113
provides requirements for using CANS during level of care assessments conducted by a QI.
All CANS are required to be entered into the CARES-Live system per ACL 21-27. Ensuring
all CANS are completed and entered into CARES-Live is critical to the identification and
monitoring of child and youth strengths and needs, which supports accurate, individualized
case planning and care coordination. In the case of an Indian child, the CANS must reflect
the input of the Indian child’s Tribe, throughout the process to provide the Tribal and cultural
perspective on needs, strengths, case plan services and supports.

COMMUNICATION, MESSAGING, AND NETWORKING MATERIALS

The Implementation Team identified key areas of need for easily accessible engagement
and communication materials for all system partners. All materials were created to support
the expansion of and fidelity to CFT and CANS practices across the system of care.
Additionally, system partners should utilize these resources in a variety of creative ways,
including, but not limited to:

e Foster care trainings and conferences

e Resource Family Approval (RFA) trainings

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RFA recruitment

RFA and case worker coaching

Case worker staff development

Educational resources for social work students

Onboarding new CFT members

Orientation classes for parents involved with the child welfare system
Staff trainings for any system of care partners

Training resources for Tribal representatives

UPDATED BROCHURES

CFT and CANS brochures for youth, professionals, and parents have been updated and
contain a basic overview of information related to the CFT and CANS processes, including
defining the purpose of the CFT, who should attend the CFT meetings and why, location
and timing of the CFT meetings, and how often a meeting is required. The brochures
highlight the importance of each CFT member's role to ensure youth and families are
supported and their voices and preferences are central to guiding the CFT process.

Counties, providers, and system of care partners should be creative in utilizing the updated
brochures to build engagement, understanding, and participation in the CFT and CANS
processes. All partners should make the brochures easily accessible to children, parents,
Tribes, and other professionals by:

e Sending electronic copies of the brochures to potential CFT participants.

e Including the brochures in standard information packets provided to children,
parents, caregivers, professionals and Indian custodians and Tribes in the case of
an Indian child.

e Ensuring brochures are readily available in agency offices.

e Posting the brochures on agency websites.

Obtaining Copies of Publications

Electronic copies of the CFT and CANS publications are available for download on the
CDSS Forms webpage at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/forms-brochures/forms-
alphabetic-list or on the CDSS CFT and CANS webpage at
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/child-and-family-teams/resources.

Information for ordering publications (county only) is available on the CDSS Forms
webpage at www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/Forms-Brochures/How-to-Order-Forms.

CFT AND CANS WEBPAGE

To promote the utilization and easier navigation of CFT and CANS resources, the CDSS
CFT and CANS webpages have been updated into the following categories:

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e Parents, Caregivers, and Family: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-
programs/foster-care/child-and-family-teams/parent-resources

e Child and Youth: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-
care/child-and-family-teams/child-and-teen-resources

e Professionals, Supporters, and Indian Custodians:
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-care/child-and-family-
teams/professional-resources

Visitors can also access additional CANS and CFT resources and State policy letters by
accessing the CFT and CANS homepage: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-
care/child-and-family-teams

CFT AND CANS VIDEOS

The CDSS, in collaboration with the CFT/CANS Implementation Team, developed a series
of videos to support and explain various roles within the CFT and CANS processes. The
videos are three to four minutes in length and orient CFT members to the CFT and CANS
processes and are easily accessible from the CDSS CFT and CANS webpage at
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/cans/best-practices. Below you fill find a
list of these videos according to their respective audience:

First-Time Adult Participants in a CFT

This animated video was designed to be shared with adult CFT participants (parents, Indian
custodians, caregivers, relatives, or friends) and sent via text message or email prior to their
first meeting.

English video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=UYBJl4eYdyY &feature=youtu.be
Spanish video: https://(www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbyZZQEAFZg

Youth (Ages 6-12):

This video for youth provides a brief overview of CFT meetings and the CANS from a youth
perspective and is intended to be shown to youth prior to their first CFT meeting.

English video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=vIIVAMNRRPU
Spanish video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fGowFYjnlY

Teens (Ages 13-17):

This video provides a brief overview of the CANS and CFT meetings for teens.

English video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inbb2i7RSvO


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Spanish video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=_fGowFYjnlY

CFT for Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Cases:

This video was designed to remind all system partners that Tribes are required partners and
members in all aspects of the CFT and CANS processes and that active efforts must be
made to invite and include Tribal representatives.

English video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Kzf4fxfml

Youth Entering a Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program:

This video is to be shared with youth who have been assessed by a Qualified Individual
and recommended for placement in an STRTP.

Video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=zz-HAm_ICbU
Probation Officers:

This video for probation officers and speaks to the critical role the CFT can play in the lives
of youth who are adjudicated wards of the court.

English video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoR1pZYYOTA
Spanish captioned video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auz5lS6_Zbw

Behavioral Health Workers:

This video provides behavioral health workers with a brief overview of CANS and the CFT
processes and presents the importance of behavioral health worker participation in CFT
meetings.

English video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kyOYSPsDkg
Spanish captioned video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB1hBhx97zU

Child Welfare Workers:

This video provides child welfare workers with an overview of CANS and CFT processes
and highlights the vital role of case workers in successful CFT meetings and use of the
CANS.

English video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMYYjG8KPSs
Spanish captioned video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__iXQGwVTbo


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CFT SURVEY

The CDSS, in collaboration with the CFT/CANS Implementation Team, updated the CFT
and CANS participant survey. The survey is available via webpage link and Quick
Response (QR) code for all CFT participants to provide feedback regarding their recent
CFT meeting experience. The CDSS strongly encourages counties and providers to utilize
this anonymous survey to collect feedback and information regarding the experiences of
participants by their individual roles. The survey data also informs local and statewide CFT
and CANS training needs and continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts. The CFT
Survey is available on the CDSS CFT webpage at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cftsurvey.

CFT TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT GUIDE

The CFT Tribal Engagement Guide was developed in partnership with the CDSS, the
California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC), and the UC Davis Resource Center for Family
Focused Practice (RCFFP). The project was inspired by findings from the CTFC CFT
project and 2020 CFT Report. The Guide was developed through a Tribal engagement
process and can be found on the CDSS CFT webpage at
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-care/child-and-family-
teams/professional-resources.

The guide provides an overview of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and CFT
requirements for Indian children in California; partnering with Tribes; understanding the
different perspectives of Tribes and child welfare; identifying and engaging team members
for the CFT; making the CFT meeting accessible and engaging; supporting the child and
family’s connection to culture in the CFT; ongoing communication and work between
meetings; and utilizing continuous quality improvement practices during county and tribal
collaboration.

A strengths-based, culturally relevant, family-centered CFT engagement process is key to
partnering with Tribes and Indian children and families to develop and implement
individualized and behaviorally based case plans. The CFT also informs placement
decisions, addresses strengths and needs of the child and family, and importantly for an
Indian child, ICWA placement preference. Utilizing the practices described in this guide
supports fidelity to and continuous quality improvement of the CFT process. The CFT Tribal
Engagement Guide also supports a more collaborative, individualized decision-making
process, and coordination of care for Indian children and families. Counties, providers, and
system of care partners are encouraged to review the guide and incorporate the practices,
resources, and strategies into local systems through policy, training, and practice coaching.

CFT AND CANS TRAINING CURRICULA

The CDSS, in partnership with the CFT/CANS Implementation Team, developed and
updated CFT curricula to include CANS information. Additionally, several trainings have

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been revised to integrate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Below are four of the
revised CFT trainings currently available to child welfare, juvenile probation, behavioral
health, Tribal, community-based providers, and other system of care partners. To register
for any of the trainings below, or for more information, please visit the California Child
Welfare Training (CACWT) site or reach out to your county training representative or
regional training academy:

e Academy for Professional Excellence

e Bay Area Academy

e Central California Training Academy

e Northern California Training Academy

CFT Facilitation Training

The curriculum is designed as a five-day training for virtual delivery or a four-day training in-
person. Through the hands-on facilitation practice throughout the training, trainees will
develop the skills to facilitate CFT meetings across the child welfare continuum that address
safety, permanency, and well-being.

As stated in ACL 18-23, CFT meeting facilitators are required to participate in facilitation
training, including contracted facilitators, non-case-carrying social workers, or case-carry
social workers who facilitate CFT meetings. In addition, it is recommended that CFT
supervisors are trained in CFT facilitation.

CFT Overview

The half-day training (three hours) is designed to orient participants to the CFT meeting
process. The training is for individuals who may participate in CFT meetings or need to
know basic information about CFT meetings due to intersecting with child welfare, juvenile
probation and/or behavioral health systems. Participants will receive information about the
CANS and how it enhances and supports the CFT.

Effective CFT Meetings (formally CFT: Role of the Social Worker

This one-day training provides participants with basic teaming and meeting knowledge and
skills. Through the training, trainees will develop the skills to team and engage with the
child, youth, non-minor dependent and/or parents before, during, and after the child and
family team meetings. The training is recommended for supervisors and case workers who
participate in CFT meetings.

Integrating CANS into CFT Meetings and Case Planning

This two-day training teaches participants how to integrate the CANS into a CFT meeting
and child welfare case plan. The course will address how to prepare the family for the CFT
meeting, how to discuss the CANS during the CFT meeting, how to “implicitly” rate CANS

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items based on needs and strengths discussed, and how to review draft CANS ratings with
CFT members during meetings. The training is recommended for CFT meeting facilitators,
case workers who complete case plans, supervisors who oversee case planning and CFT

meetings, and CANS completers.

CANS Curriculum Updates

Over the last several years, the CDSS provided direction regarding training requirements for
the implementation and practice of the CANS within child welfare and CFT meetings via
ACL 18-09, ACL 18-81, ACL 18-85, and ACL 21-27. In 2023, the California Social Work
Education Center (CalSWEC), the regional training academies (RTAs), the University of
Kentucky Center for Innovation in Population Health (IPH), and the CDSS partnered with
the CFT/CANS Implementation Team to revise and update the CANS curriculum and
materials. The curriculum and materials can be accessed through the CACWT website or
by reaching out to an RTA. The revised CANS courses and curricula include:

e CANS: Supporting Collaborative Assessment and Action Planning (previously
Module A). Revisions are anticipated for completion and CACWT upload in late
2024.

e The CANS: Overview and Preparation for Certification (previously Module B).
Revisions have been completed, and curriculum and materials can be found in
CACWT.

e CANS in Supervision Coaching Staff towards Practice Integration (previously Module
C). Revisions are anticipated for completion and upload into CACWT in late 2024.

e Module D: CANS Review and Case Planning is no longer actively used by the
statewide training system. Elements from this training were integrated into the
updates of the other modules and the Integrating CANS into the CFT course (see
above). The Module D training materials have been archived and can be provided
upon request through your RTA.

CFT/CANS STATEWIDE FORUM AND CFT/CANS STEERING COMMITTEE

In the Fall of 2023, the CFT CANS Implementation Team was re-engineered and renamed
the CFT/CANS Statewide Forum. Additionally, the CFT/CANS Steering Committee was
created as a smaller team to guide the priorities of CFT and CANS implementation and
fidelity efforts. Their collective mission is to convene interagency, system of care partners,
and individuals with lived experience, at the statewide and regional levels to support
effective and inclusive CFT and CANS processes and continuous quality improvement. The
CDSS partnered with the following stakeholders to form the Steering Committee and
Statewide Forum:

e Child Welfare Directors Association (CWDA)
e Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC)
e California Youth Connection (CYC)

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County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California (CBHDA)
State System of Care (SOC) departments

Regional Training Academies (RTA)

Individuals with lived experience

California Alliance of Caregivers (CAC)

California Alliance of Children and Family Services

CFT/CANS Statewide Forum

The CFT/CANS Statewide Forum is an open meeting facilitated by the UC Davis Northern
Academy and the CDSS. The Forum meets quarterly to convene stakeholders from across
the state to share information and engage in discussions that support the evolution of and
fidelity to CFT and CANS policy and practice. The CDSS invites county agencies, system of
care partners, stakeholder organizations, and community-based providers to attend the
Forum meetings to learn and to contribute wisdom and practice experience with CFTs and
CANS.

To join the Statewide Forum, please complete the CFT CANS Statewide Forum Invite
Request Form or email CWScoordination@dss.ca.gov.

INQUIRIES

For questions or additional information regarding CFT or CANS, please contact the CDSS
Integrated Services Unit at CWScoordination@dss.ca.gov or (916) 651-2752.

Sincerely,

Original Document Signed By

SARA ROGERS, Chief

System of Care Branch

Children and Family Services Division

cc: California Alliance for Child and Family Services

County Welfare Directors Association
Chief Probation Officers of California