CAASP Service Coordination 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which component of wraparound service coordination ensures that plans remain relevant as a youth's needs change over time?
- Initial intake assessment
- Regular plan-of-care review and revision (Correct answer)
- One-time interagency meeting
- Annual eligibility re-determination
Correct answer: Regular plan-of-care review and revision
Wraparound requires ongoing review and adjustment of the plan of care to reflect the youth's evolving needs and progress.
Question 2: A service coordinator is working with a youth transitioning from residential treatment to community living. The MOST critical coordination task at this stage is:
- Closing out the case once discharge is approved
- Establishing community-based supports before discharge to prevent re-hospitalization (Correct answer)
- Waiting until discharge to begin community planning
- Transferring responsibility entirely to the outpatient therapist
Correct answer: Establishing community-based supports before discharge to prevent re-hospitalization
Transition planning must begin well before discharge, with community supports in place to bridge the gap and reduce crisis risk.
Question 3: The principle of 'unconditional care' in systems of care means:
- Services are provided only when youth meet behavioral expectations
- Support continues even when youth or families are difficult to engage or experience setbacks (Correct answer)
- Care is unlimited with no fiscal constraints
- All services are provided unconditionally regardless of safety concerns
Correct answer: Support continues even when youth or families are difficult to engage or experience setbacks
Unconditional care means the system does not give up on youth even during crises or non-compliance, adjusting approaches rather than terminating services.
Question 4: When a service coordinator convenes a child and family team (CFT), who should be included in the membership?
- Only licensed mental health professionals
- The youth, family members, natural supports, and relevant agency representatives (Correct answer)
- Agency representatives and supervisors only
- The coordinator and primary therapist only
Correct answer: The youth, family members, natural supports, and relevant agency representatives
The CFT is intentionally broad and includes the youth, family, informal supports, and all relevant providers to ensure comprehensive, coordinated planning.
Question 5: Interagency collaboration in CAASP-aligned systems is best characterized by:
- Each agency independently determining services with minimal cross-system communication
- Shared decision-making, pooled resources, and blended funding across child-serving systems (Correct answer)
- One lead agency directing all other agencies without input
- Informal referral networks without formal agreements
Correct answer: Shared decision-making, pooled resources, and blended funding across child-serving systems
True interagency collaboration involves shared governance, co-located services, blended funding, and joint accountability for outcomes.
Question 6: A family reports feeling overwhelmed by multiple appointments with different providers during the same week. As a service coordinator, the BEST response is to:
- Tell the family that appointments are required and cannot be changed
- Work with providers to consolidate scheduling and reduce burden on the family (Correct answer)
- Reduce the number of services the youth receives
- Document the complaint and take no action
Correct answer: Work with providers to consolidate scheduling and reduce burden on the family
Reducing family burden through scheduling coordination is a practical service coordination function that supports engagement.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes the role of data and outcomes measurement in service coordination?
- Data is collected primarily for billing and compliance purposes
- Outcome data guides real-time plan adjustments and demonstrates accountability to families and funders (Correct answer)
- Data collection is the responsibility of researchers, not coordinators
- Outcome measurement is only relevant at program exit
Correct answer: Outcome data guides real-time plan adjustments and demonstrates accountability to families and funders
Ongoing outcomes monitoring informs whether the plan of care is working and supports accountability to all stakeholders.
CAASP Service Coordination 3
Which component of wraparound service coordination ensures that plans remain relevant as a youth's needs change over time?