Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has introduced the Michigan Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (MichiCANS) tool to enhance access to behavioral health services for children and youth across the state. This new tool aims to integrate information about the behavioral health needs and strengths of young individuals and their families, facilitating better communication and service planning.

MichiCANS is designed to listen to youths' experiences, prioritize necessary actions, and track changes over time. It helps identify areas requiring immediate attention while recognizing strengths that can be incorporated into treatment plans. The MichiCANS tool replaces previous assessment tools like the Preschool and Early Childhood Functional Assessment Scale and the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale.

"The MichiCANS tool prioritizes collaboration to identify and communicate the individual needs and strengths of Michigan youth and families in need of behavioral health services," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. "This new approach will ensure the stories of youth and families are heard and valued throughout the assessment and care planning process. It also helps promote quality screening and assessment standards across the state to ensure exceptional behavioral health services can be delivered equitably to those in need."

Key benefits of MichiCANS include its applicability for children with serious emotional disturbances or intellectual/developmental disabilities, its focus on both strengths and needs, support for linking identified needs/strengths with action planning, and its design for sharing information across various child-serving systems.

All Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans, Community Mental Health Service Providers, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in Michigan have adopted MichiCANS in their processes for accessing, intake, and service planning for youth up to 20 years old.

The MichiCANS tool comprises two parts: a Screener used at the point of access to service, followed by a Comprehensive assessment completed during intake. This structure ensures that families do not have to repeatedly share their experiences as information from the Screener transfers seamlessly to the Comprehensive assessment.

To support this statewide implementation, MDHHS has launched a dedicated webpage providing detailed information about MichiCANS for both families and providers.