CHILD & ADOLESCENT FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT SCALE (CAFAS) BOOSTER TRAINING

Course Description:
The Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) training prepares clinicians to use the CAFAS instrument – an empirically documented, multidimensional measure that is used for measuring functional impairment in children and adolescents. CAFAS permits assessing impairment, choosing corresponding goals that address areas of impairment, and identifying the child’s strengths. Participants will learn to use the instrument to assess School, Home and Community Performance, Thinking, Behavior Toward Others, Mood/Emotions, Self-Harm and Substance Abuse as well as the two care-giver scales, Basic Needs and Family/Social Support. These sub-scales assist in developing a treatment plan that is strengths-based and outcomes-driven. 

Course Objectives:

• Identify essential information to share with caregivers and families about the CAFAS

• Use the CAFAS in clinical session to encourage families and assist in discussions of setting treatment goals

• Identify five valid ways of using a CAFAS profile to determine clinical progress

• Interpret all items on the CAFAS for reliable rating correctly

• Demonstrate reliable rating of the CAFAS successfully

• Track whether the youth’s functioning improves over time

Timed Agenda:

9:00 am – 9:15 am       CAFAS Booster Pre-Test

9:15 am – 10:15 am     Jeopardy

10:15 am – 10:30 am   BREAK

10:30 am – 11:00 am   Video Vignette (Jenna)

11:00 am – 11:30 am   Team Challenge Break-Out Discussion

11:30 am – 12:00 pm   Reliable Interviewing

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm   LUNCH

12:30 pm – 12:45 pm   Team Challenge Presentation (Group 1)

12:45 pm -1:00 pm      Causes for Celebration and CAFAS Tiers

1:00 pm – 1:15 pm        Team Challenge Presentation (Group 2)

1:15 pm – 1:45 pm       Video Vignette (James)

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm       BREAK

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm       Team Challenge Presentation (Group 3)

2:15 pm -2:45 pm        Sharing CAFAS with Caregivers

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm       Team Challenge Presentation (Group 4)

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm       CAFAS Booster Reliable Rater Test

Suggested Participants: Qualified Children’s Mental Health Providers working in CMH billable programs in Wayne County with children ages 7-17 with a primary Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) diagnosis and who are expected to complete the assessment with the children/youth they serve.  The CAFAS Booster is required every two years for those already certified as a CAFAS Reliable Rater, providing a refresher to ensure reliable rating across our System of Care. Failure to complete a booster within 2 years and 30 days of the initial training will result in the rater having to attend the initial two-day training again.