ASOs will have access to Qualified Individuals in other regions and they are trying to share resources during this initial phase of implementation. If an ASO does not have available Qualified Individuals, they will need to inform OBH and DCW immediately so they can problem solve to ensure that the assessment is done within the timeframes. I

Contractually, ASOs are required to provide independent assessments in a timely manner.

The CDHS Office of Behavioral Health contracts with the Administrative Service Organization (ASO) in your region, who is then responsible for contracting directly with and hiring the Qualified Individual(s) needed and managing quality assurance. Qualified Individuals must be licensed behavioral health professionals, trained in the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool and take advanced Family First and trauma-informed care trainings. As of October 1, 2021, the independent assessment process for all counties is up and running. ASOs continue to be concerned about Qualified Individual capacity, workforce shortages and waitlists.

Qualified Individual” means a trained professional or licensed clinician, as defined in the federal “Family First Prevention Services Act”. “Qualified Individual” must be approved to serve as a Qualified Individual according to the state plan. “Qualified Individual” must not be an interested party or participant in the juvenile court proceeding and must be free of any personal or business relationship that would cause a conflict of interest in evaluating the child, juvenile, or youth and making recommendations concerning the child’s, juvenile’s, or youth’s placement and therapeutic needs according to the federal Title IV-E state plan or any waiver in accordance with 42 U.S.C. sec. 675a

The entire assessment process from the time of referral to the completed assessment summary is completed within 14 days. Ideally the process should be completed before placement, but it must be completed within 10 business days of placement if that’s not possible. Federal funding for a child/youth/juvenile in QRTP placement is initially allowed for up to 30 days and then only allowed past that timeframe if the independent assessment determines that a QRTP is the appropriate level of care.

The Independent Assessment is completed by a licensed behavioral health professional who completes a full psychosocial assessment, reviews all provided documentation, meets with the child or youth, speaks with a wide variety of individuals, and has completed a robust set of training. The CANS tool is used after the psychosocial assessment to help the behavioral health professional identify key needs and strengths with the family and child or youth. The CANS tool is also used to frame the assessment in a measurable way and to work with all parties involved to gain a consensus of the needs and strengths

Qualified Individuals are licensed behavioral health professionals who have advanced training in trauma, cultural considerations, Family First requirements and the placement continuum, and are contracted directly with the Administrative Service Organizations and overseen by the CDHS Office of Behavioral Health. The Qualified Individuals will be completing the Independent Assessment.

Once a county or the Division of Youth Services (DYS) determines a child or youth may benefit from treatment at a QRTP, the county will make a referral for an Independent Assessment. The Colorado Department of Human Services has contracted with the regional Administrative Services Organizations (ASOs) to implement the Independent Assessor process in Colorado