CAASP Documentation Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under CASSP principles, which element must be documented first when opening a new case for a child with serious emotional disturbance?
- Child's strengths and assets (Correct answer)
- Diagnosis and presenting problems only
- Insurance coverage verification
- Referral source contact information
Correct answer: Child's strengths and assets
CASSP's strengths-based approach requires documenting the child's strengths and assets at the outset of any service planning process.
Question 2: When documenting a child's cultural background in a CAASP-aligned system of care, which practice is most appropriate?
- Note only the child's primary language
- Record ethnicity as reported by the family using their own terminology (Correct answer)
- Use standardized federal race/ethnicity categories exclusively
- Document culture only if it affects diagnosis
Correct answer: Record ethnicity as reported by the family using their own terminology
Culturally competent documentation requires capturing the family's self-identified terminology to honor their perspective and avoid misrepresentation.
Question 3: A wraparound facilitator needs to document a team meeting. Which component is REQUIRED in the meeting notes?
- Decisions made and action steps with assigned responsible parties (Correct answer)
- Full verbatim transcript of all discussion
- Billing codes for each team member present
- Supervisor approval signature before filing
Correct answer: Decisions made and action steps with assigned responsible parties
Meeting notes must capture decisions and action steps with named responsible parties so the plan remains accountable and actionable.
Question 4: How frequently should a child's individualized service plan (ISP) be formally reviewed and documented in most CAASP-model programs?
- Every 6 months at minimum
- Annually unless there is a crisis
- At least every 90 days or when significant changes occur (Correct answer)
- Only when the child transitions between levels of care
Correct answer: At least every 90 days or when significant changes occur
ISPs should be reviewed at least quarterly (every 90 days) and whenever significant changes in the child's status or goals occur.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'natural supports' in the context of documenting a child's service plan?
- Paid professional service providers assigned by the agency
- Unpaid community and family members who provide ongoing support (Correct answer)
- State-funded residential treatment placements
- Evidence-based therapeutic interventions only
Correct answer: Unpaid community and family members who provide ongoing support
Natural supports are informal, unpaid individuals such as relatives, neighbors, and community members documented as part of the child's support network.
Question 6: When a child is involved with multiple child-serving systems (child welfare, juvenile justice, education, mental health), which documentation practice is most consistent with CAASP principles?
- Each system maintains entirely separate records with no cross-system sharing
- A single coordinated care plan is documented with input from all systems (Correct answer)
- The mental health agency takes sole responsibility for all documentation
- Documentation is deferred until all agencies agree on a lead agency
Correct answer: A single coordinated care plan is documented with input from all systems
CAASP promotes interagency collaboration, requiring a single coordinated care plan that integrates input from all involved child-serving systems.
Question 7: A child transitions from a residential program back to the community. What documentation must be completed at discharge to support continuity of care?
- A discharge summary with aftercare plan, follow-up appointments, and crisis contacts (Correct answer)
- Only the final progress note from the last session
- Billing reconciliation statement for the funding source
- A new intake assessment starting from scratch in the community setting
Correct answer: A discharge summary with aftercare plan, follow-up appointments, and crisis contacts
Discharge documentation must include a summary of treatment, a detailed aftercare plan, scheduled follow-ups, and crisis resources to ensure safe community transition.
CAASP Documentation Standards 2
Under CASSP principles, which element must be documented first when opening a new case for a child with serious emotional disturbance?