"\"\\n--- Page 1 ---\\nJuly 19, 2024\\n\\nCALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES\\nEXECUTIVE SUMMARY\\n\\nALL COUNTY INFORMATION NOTICE NO. I-35-24\\n\\nThe ACIN outlines available resources to enhance the engagement and participation of\\nfamilies, Tribes, natural supports, system partners, and other participants in the Child and\\n\\nFamily Team (CFT) and Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths tool (CANS)\\nprocesses.\\n\\n\\n--- Page 2 ---\\nRY CALIFORNIA HEALTH \\u0026 HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY\\nar\\n\\nDEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES\\n\\nCDSS 744 P Street * Sacramento, CA 95814 * www.cdss.ca.gov\\nie\\nKIM JOHNSON GAVIN NEWSOM\\nDIRECTOR GOVERNOR\\nJuly 19, 2024\\n\\nALL COUNTY INFORMATION NOTICE (ACIN) NO. 1-35-24\\n\\nTO: ALL COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS\\nALL CHIEF PROBATION OFFICERS\\nALL INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM MANAGERS\\nALL ADOPTION REGIONAL AND FIELD OFFICES\\nALL INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM COORDINATORS\\nALL FOSTER CARE MANAGERS\\nALL TITLE IV-E AGREEMENT TRIBES\\nALL TRANSITIONAL HOUSING COORDINATORS\\nALL FOSTER FAMILY AGENCIES\\nALL SHORT TERM RESIDENTAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS\\n\\nSUBJECT: NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ENHANCE FIDELITY AND\\nSUPPORT OF CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM (CFT) MEETINGS\\nAND THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT NEEDS AND\\nSTRENGTHS (CANS)\\n\\nREFERENCE: ALL COUNTY LETTER (ACL) 16-84, ACL 18-23, ACL 18-09,\\nACL 18-81, ACL 18-85, ACL 21-113, ACL 21-27, ACL 22-35\\n\\nPURPOSE\\n\\nThe purpose of this All County Information Notice (ACIN) is to share newly developed\\nresources for enhancing fidelity and support of Child and Family Team (CFT) Meetings and\\nthe California Integrated Practice Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS,\\nherein referred to as CANS).\\n\\nBACKGROUND\\n\\nFrom 2018 to 2023, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) convened the\\nCFT and CANS Implementation Team to collaboratively identify and address barriers and\\ngaps to full scale implementation of CFT and CANS practices across the State. The\\nImplementation Team identified a need for universal engagement and informational tools\\nand training that could be accessed and shared by all system partners responsible for\\nimplementing CFTs and CANS. This letter presents the deliverables developed through that\\ncollaboration.\\n\\n--- Page 3 ---\\nAll County Information Notice No. |-35-24\\nPage Two\\n\\nTHE CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM (CFT)\\n\\nEngaging families, Tribes, natural supports, system partners and other participants in the\\nCFT and CANS processes is essential to successfully uplift and integrate the voices and\\npreferences of youth and family members into comprehensive and achievable case plan\\ngoals. Furthermore, CFT meeting participation data has shown that natural supports, such\\nas family, Tribes, and other members important to the family, are not consistently engaged\\nand included in CFT meetings. Engaging and including these key CFT members in case\\nplanning with the family is essential to individualize the support provided to families.\\nAccording to ACL 22-35, and as outlined in the Tribal Engagement Guide in the case of an\\nIndian child, the child’s Tribe is a required member of the CFT. Additionally, the case worker\\nshould make every effort to allow for the Tribe or Tribal representative to participate in the\\nCFT meeting, including telephonic, digitally, or virtually access to the CFT meeting.\\nResources outlined in this letter were developed to support engagement, participation, and\\ninclusion of members’ perspectives during the CFT, CANS, and case planning processes.\\n\\nGeneral guidance related to the requirements and role of CFTs in child welfare can be\\nfound in ACL 16-84 and ACL 22-35. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding CFT\\npractice are found in ACL 18-23. Additionally, ACL 21-113 provides guidance regarding the\\nCFT requirements within the Qualified Individual (Ql) assessment process for youth being\\nconsidered for placement in a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP).\\n\\nTHE CHILD AND ADOLESCENTS NEEDS AND STRENGTHS (CANS)\\n\\nGeneral guidance related to the requirements for the completion of CANS and how it is\\nshared, discussed, and used within the CFT process to support case planning and care\\ncoordination can be found in ACL 18-81, ACL 18-85, and ACL 18-09. ACL 21-113\\nprovides requirements for using CANS during level of care assessments conducted by a QI.\\nAll CANS are required to be entered into the CARES-Live system per ACL 21-27. Ensuring\\nall CANS are completed and entered into CARES-Live is critical to the identification and\\nmonitoring of child and youth strengths and needs, which supports accurate, individualized\\ncase planning and care coordination. In the case of an Indian child, the CANS must reflect\\nthe input of the Indian child’s Tribe, throughout the process to provide the Tribal and cultural\\nperspective on needs, strengths, case plan services and supports.\\n\\nCOMMUNICATION, MESSAGING, AND NETWORKING MATERIALS\\n\\nThe Implementation Team identified key areas of need for easily accessible engagement\\nand communication materials for all system partners. All materials were created to support\\nthe expansion of and fidelity to CFT and CANS practices across the system of care.\\nAdditionally, system partners should utilize these resources in a variety of creative ways,\\nincluding, but not limited to:\\n\\ne Foster care trainings and conferences\\n\\ne Resource Family Approval (RFA) trainings\\n\\n--- Page 4 ---\\nAll County Information Notice No. |-35-24\\nPage Three\\n\\nRFA recruitment\\n\\nRFA and case worker coaching\\n\\nCase worker staff development\\n\\nEducational resources for social work students\\n\\nOnboarding new CFT members\\n\\nOrientation classes for parents involved with the child welfare system\\nStaff trainings for any system of care partners\\n\\nTraining resources for Tribal representatives\\n\\nUPDATED BROCHURES\\n\\nCFT and CANS brochures for youth, professionals, and parents have been updated and\\ncontain a basic overview of information related to the CFT and CANS processes, including\\ndefining the purpose of the CFT, who should attend the CFT meetings and why, location\\nand timing of the CFT meetings, and how often a meeting is required. The brochures\\nhighlight the importance of each CFT member's role to ensure youth and families are\\nsupported and their voices and preferences are central to guiding the CFT process.\\n\\nCounties, providers, and system of care partners should be creative in utilizing the updated\\nbrochures to build engagement, understanding, and participation in the CFT and CANS\\nprocesses. All partners should make the brochures easily accessible to children, parents,\\nTribes, and other professionals by:\\n\\ne Sending electronic copies of the brochures to potential CFT participants.\\n\\ne Including the brochures in standard information packets provided to children,\\nparents, caregivers, professionals and Indian custodians and Tribes in the case of\\nan Indian child.\\n\\ne Ensuring brochures are readily available in agency offices.\\n\\ne Posting the brochures on agency websites.\\n\\nObtaining Copies of Publications\\n\\nElectronic copies of the CFT and CANS publications are available for download on the\\nCDSS Forms webpage at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/forms-brochures/forms-\\nalphabetic-list or on the CDSS CFT and CANS webpage at\\nhttps://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/child-and-family-teams/resources.\\n\\nInformation for ordering publications (county only) is available on the CDSS Forms\\nwebpage at www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/Forms-Brochures/How-to-Order-Forms.\\n\\nCFT AND CANS WEBPAGE\\n\\nTo promote the utilization and easier navigation of CFT and CANS resources, the CDSS\\nCFT and CANS webpages have been updated into the following categories:\\n\\n--- Page 5 ---\\nAll County Information Notice No. |-35-24\\nPage Four\\n\\ne Parents, Caregivers, and Family: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-\\nprograms/foster-care/child-and-family-teams/parent-resources\\n\\ne Child and Youth: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-\\ncare/child-and-family-teams/child-and-teen-resources\\n\\ne Professionals, Supporters, and Indian Custodians:\\nhttps://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-care/child-and-family-\\nteams/professional-resources\\n\\nVisitors can also access additional CANS and CFT resources and State policy letters by\\naccessing the CFT and CANS homepage: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-\\ncare/child-and-family-teams\\n\\nCFT AND CANS VIDEOS\\n\\nThe CDSS, in collaboration with the CFT/CANS Implementation Team, developed a series\\nof videos to support and explain various roles within the CFT and CANS processes. The\\nvideos are three to four minutes in length and orient CFT members to the CFT and CANS\\nprocesses and are easily accessible from the CDSS CFT and CANS webpage at\\nhttps://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/cans/best-practices. Below you fill find a\\nlist of these videos according to their respective audience:\\n\\nFirst-Time Adult Participants in a CFT\\n\\nThis animated video was designed to be shared with adult CFT participants (parents, Indian\\ncustodians, caregivers, relatives, or friends) and sent via text message or email prior to their\\nfirst meeting.\\n\\nEnglish video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=UYBJl4eYdyY \\u0026feature=youtu.be\\nSpanish video: https://(www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbyZZQEAFZg\\n\\nYouth (Ages 6-12):\\n\\nThis video for youth provides a brief overview of CFT meetings and the CANS from a youth\\nperspective and is intended to be shown to youth prior to their first CFT meeting.\\n\\nEnglish video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=vIIVAMNRRPU\\nSpanish video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fGowFYjnlY\\n\\nTeens (Ages 13-17):\\n\\nThis video provides a brief overview of the CANS and CFT meetings for teens.\\n\\nEnglish video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inbb2i7RSvO\\n\\n\\n--- Page 6 ---\\nAll County Information Notice No. |-35-24\\nPage Five\\n\\nSpanish video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=_fGowFYjnlY\\n\\nCFT for Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Cases:\\n\\nThis video was designed to remind all system partners that Tribes are required partners and\\nmembers in all aspects of the CFT and CANS processes and that active efforts must be\\nmade to invite and include Tribal representatives.\\n\\nEnglish video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Kzf4fxfml\\n\\nYouth Entering a Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program:\\n\\nThis video is to be shared with youth who have been assessed by a Qualified Individual\\nand recommended for placement in an STRTP.\\n\\nVideo: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=zz-HAm_ICbU\\nProbation Officers:\\n\\nThis video for probation officers and speaks to the critical role the CFT can play in the lives\\nof youth who are adjudicated wards of the court.\\n\\nEnglish video: https:/Awww.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoR1pZYYOTA\\nSpanish captioned video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auz5lS6_Zbw\\n\\nBehavioral Health Workers:\\n\\nThis video provides behavioral health workers with a brief overview of CANS and the CFT\\nprocesses and presents the importance of behavioral health worker participation in CFT\\nmeetings.\\n\\nEnglish video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kyOYSPsDkg\\nSpanish captioned video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB1hBhx97zU\\n\\nChild Welfare Workers:\\n\\nThis video provides child welfare workers with an overview of CANS and CFT processes\\nand highlights the vital role of case workers in successful CFT meetings and use of the\\nCANS.\\n\\nEnglish video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMYYjG8KPSs\\nSpanish captioned video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__iXQGwVTbo\\n\\n\\n--- Page 7 ---\\nAll County Information Notice No. |-35-24\\nPage Six\\n\\nCFT SURVEY\\n\\nThe CDSS, in collaboration with the CFT/CANS Implementation Team, updated the CFT\\nand CANS participant survey. The survey is available via webpage link and Quick\\nResponse (QR) code for all CFT participants to provide feedback regarding their recent\\nCFT meeting experience. The CDSS strongly encourages counties and providers to utilize\\nthis anonymous survey to collect feedback and information regarding the experiences of\\nparticipants by their individual roles. The survey data also informs local and statewide CFT\\nand CANS training needs and continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts. The CFT\\nSurvey is available on the CDSS CFT webpage at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cftsurvey.\\n\\nCFT TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT GUIDE\\n\\nThe CFT Tribal Engagement Guide was developed in partnership with the CDSS, the\\nCalifornia Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC), and the UC Davis Resource Center for Family\\nFocused Practice (RCFFP). The project was inspired by findings from the CTFC CFT\\nproject and 2020 CFT Report. The Guide was developed through a Tribal engagement\\nprocess and can be found on the CDSS CFT webpage at\\nhttps://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-care/child-and-family-\\nteams/professional-resources.\\n\\nThe guide provides an overview of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and CFT\\nrequirements for Indian children in California; partnering with Tribes; understanding the\\ndifferent perspectives of Tribes and child welfare; identifying and engaging team members\\nfor the CFT; making the CFT meeting accessible and engaging; supporting the child and\\nfamily’s connection to culture in the CFT; ongoing communication and work between\\nmeetings; and utilizing continuous quality improvement practices during county and tribal\\ncollaboration.\\n\\nA strengths-based, culturally relevant, family-centered CFT engagement process is key to\\npartnering with Tribes and Indian children and families to develop and implement\\nindividualized and behaviorally based case plans. The CFT also informs placement\\ndecisions, addresses strengths and needs of the child and family, and importantly for an\\nIndian child, ICWA placement preference. Utilizing the practices described in this guide\\nsupports fidelity to and continuous quality improvement of the CFT process. The CFT Tribal\\nEngagement Guide also supports a more collaborative, individualized decision-making\\nprocess, and coordination of care for Indian children and families. Counties, providers, and\\nsystem of care partners are encouraged to review the guide and incorporate the practices,\\nresources, and strategies into local systems through policy, training, and practice coaching.\\n\\nCFT AND CANS TRAINING CURRICULA\\n\\nThe CDSS, in partnership with the CFT/CANS Implementation Team, developed and\\nupdated CFT curricula to include CANS information. Additionally, several trainings have\\n\\n--- Page 8 ---\\nAll County Information Notice No. |-35-24\\nPage Seven\\n\\nbeen revised to integrate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Below are four of the\\nrevised CFT trainings currently available to child welfare, juvenile probation, behavioral\\nhealth, Tribal, community-based providers, and other system of care partners. To register\\nfor any of the trainings below, or for more information, please visit the California Child\\nWelfare Training (CACWT) site or reach out to your county training representative or\\nregional training academy:\\n\\ne Academy for Professional Excellence\\n\\ne Bay Area Academy\\n\\ne Central California Training Academy\\n\\ne Northern California Training Academy\\n\\nCFT Facilitation Training\\n\\nThe curriculum is designed as a five-day training for virtual delivery or a four-day training in-\\nperson. Through the hands-on facilitation practice throughout the training, trainees will\\ndevelop the skills to facilitate CFT meetings across the child welfare continuum that address\\nsafety, permanency, and well-being.\\n\\nAs stated in ACL 18-23, CFT meeting facilitators are required to participate in facilitation\\ntraining, including contracted facilitators, non-case-carrying social workers, or case-carry\\nsocial workers who facilitate CFT meetings. In addition, it is recommended that CFT\\nsupervisors are trained in CFT facilitation.\\n\\nCFT Overview\\n\\nThe half-day training (three hours) is designed to orient participants to the CFT meeting\\nprocess. The training is for individuals who may participate in CFT meetings or need to\\nknow basic information about CFT meetings due to intersecting with child welfare, juvenile\\nprobation and/or behavioral health systems. Participants will receive information about the\\nCANS and how it enhances and supports the CFT.\\n\\nEffective CFT Meetings (formally CFT: Role of the Social Worker\\n\\nThis one-day training provides participants with basic teaming and meeting knowledge and\\nskills. Through the training, trainees will develop the skills to team and engage with the\\nchild, youth, non-minor dependent and/or parents before, during, and after the child and\\nfamily team meetings. The training is recommended for supervisors and case workers who\\nparticipate in CFT meetings.\\n\\nIntegrating CANS into CFT Meetings and Case Planning\\n\\nThis two-day training teaches participants how to integrate the CANS into a CFT meeting\\nand child welfare case plan. The course will address how to prepare the family for the CFT\\nmeeting, how to discuss the CANS during the CFT meeting, how to “implicitly” rate CANS\\n\\n--- Page 9 ---\\nAll County Information Notice No. |-35-24\\nPage Eight\\n\\nitems based on needs and strengths discussed, and how to review draft CANS ratings with\\nCFT members during meetings. The training is recommended for CFT meeting facilitators,\\ncase workers who complete case plans, supervisors who oversee case planning and CFT\\n\\nmeetings, and CANS completers.\\n\\nCANS Curriculum Updates\\n\\nOver the last several years, the CDSS provided direction regarding training requirements for\\nthe implementation and practice of the CANS within child welfare and CFT meetings via\\nACL 18-09, ACL 18-81, ACL 18-85, and ACL 21-27. In 2023, the California Social Work\\nEducation Center (CalSWEC), the regional training academies (RTAs), the University of\\nKentucky Center for Innovation in Population Health (IPH), and the CDSS partnered with\\nthe CFT/CANS Implementation Team to revise and update the CANS curriculum and\\nmaterials. The curriculum and materials can be accessed through the CACWT website or\\nby reaching out to an RTA. The revised CANS courses and curricula include:\\n\\ne CANS: Supporting Collaborative Assessment and Action Planning (previously\\nModule A). Revisions are anticipated for completion and CACWT upload in late\\n2024.\\n\\ne The CANS: Overview and Preparation for Certification (previously Module B).\\nRevisions have been completed, and curriculum and materials can be found in\\nCACWT.\\n\\ne CANS in Supervision Coaching Staff towards Practice Integration (previously Module\\nC). Revisions are anticipated for completion and upload into CACWT in late 2024.\\n\\ne Module D: CANS Review and Case Planning is no longer actively used by the\\nstatewide training system. Elements from this training were integrated into the\\nupdates of the other modules and the Integrating CANS into the CFT course (see\\nabove). The Module D training materials have been archived and can be provided\\nupon request through your RTA.\\n\\nCFT/CANS STATEWIDE FORUM AND CFT/CANS STEERING COMMITTEE\\n\\nIn the Fall of 2023, the CFT CANS Implementation Team was re-engineered and renamed\\nthe CFT/CANS Statewide Forum. Additionally, the CFT/CANS Steering Committee was\\ncreated as a smaller team to guide the priorities of CFT and CANS implementation and\\nfidelity efforts. Their collective mission is to convene interagency, system of care partners,\\nand individuals with lived experience, at the statewide and regional levels to support\\neffective and inclusive CFT and CANS processes and continuous quality improvement. The\\nCDSS partnered with the following stakeholders to form the Steering Committee and\\nStatewide Forum:\\n\\ne Child Welfare Directors Association (CWDA)\\ne Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC)\\ne California Youth Connection (CYC)\\n\\n--- Page 10 ---\\nAll County Information Notice No. |-35-24\\nPage Nine\\n\\nCounty Behavioral Health Directors Association of California (CBHDA)\\nState System of Care (SOC) departments\\n\\nRegional Training Academies (RTA)\\n\\nIndividuals with lived experience\\n\\nCalifornia Alliance of Caregivers (CAC)\\n\\nCalifornia Alliance of Children and Family Services\\n\\nCFT/CANS Statewide Forum\\n\\nThe CFT/CANS Statewide Forum is an open meeting facilitated by the UC Davis Northern\\nAcademy and the CDSS. The Forum meets quarterly to convene stakeholders from across\\nthe state to share information and engage in discussions that support the evolution of and\\nfidelity to CFT and CANS policy and practice. The CDSS invites county agencies, system of\\ncare partners, stakeholder organizations, and community-based providers to attend the\\nForum meetings to learn and to contribute wisdom and practice experience with CFTs and\\nCANS.\\n\\nTo join the Statewide Forum, please complete the CFT CANS Statewide Forum Invite\\nRequest Form or email CWScoordination@dss.ca.gov.\\n\\nINQUIRIES\\n\\nFor questions or additional information regarding CFT or CANS, please contact the CDSS\\nIntegrated Services Unit at CWScoordination@dss.ca.gov or (916) 651-2752.\\n\\nSincerely,\\n\\nOriginal Document Signed By\\n\\nSARA ROGERS, Chief\\n\\nSystem of Care Branch\\n\\nChildren and Family Services Division\\n\\ncc: California Alliance for Child and Family Services\\n\\nCounty Welfare Directors Association\\nChief Probation Officers of California\\n\""
