CAFAS in Ontario

A introductory section was created for the Audit Report so it provides information intended to assist CAFAS user organizations with reviewing the data presented in the reports. The document includes :

1) a glossary of selected terms and a list of abbreviations found throughout the the audit reports;
2) some methodological notes related to each table in the report and suggestions on how fix the possible errors or re-enter missing information and
3) a News section with the lastest changes to the present report (see below)

All charts presented in advance of the chart entitled “Missing Subscales Scores at T1” include all the available data because our identification of all missing data and your correction of possible errors is crucial for the reports we prepare.
The tables presented following the “Missing Subscale Scores at T1” table (inclusively) were calculated in such way as to reflect the last 12 months of CAFAS activity (based on the admission date). This parameter was requested by some provider organizations because previously, tables contained numerous old cases that could not be edited/corrected causing them to appear on every report.
All tables, with the exception of the first “Cases with Incorrect, Missing or Out of Required Range Admission Dates” and the last four (No Improvement from Entry to Last CAFAS, Most Improved Cases from Entry to Last CAFAS, Duplicate Files with Same Client ID and Different Birth Date, Duplicate Files with Same Client ID and Same Birth Date) are sorted by the last known CAFAS rater. This will enable the case manager or designated person in your organization to better distribute the task of reviewing and correcting the files to the appropriate CAFAS Rater.
Our previous tables and charts contained many clients aged 5 years old and 19-21 years old. We now identify those cases outside the 5-21 years age range instead of the 6-18 years of age, focusing your attention to the clients that necessarily need correction or elimination.

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Based on your suggestions, we have developed a document to accompany the CAFAS in Ontario quarterly reports sent to CYMH CAFAS user organizations.

The companion document provides information intended to assist CAFAS user organizations with reviewing and interpreting the data presented in the reports. The document includes 1) a glossary of selected terms found throughout the reports; 2) methodological notes for data found within graphs and tables; and 3) selected interpretive notes to assist users with data interpretation and relevance to service delivery.

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As of 2009, the Annual Report will reflect the April to March period instead of the January to December (Calendar Year). The decision was made by the Ministry of Child and Youth Services together with the CAFAS in Onatrio Team, according to present needs and the sugestions coming from different CAFASInOntario organisations.

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All materials have been changed to reflect this new rule. Check the CommuniCAFAS wiki for more info!

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Hi folks! There’s a new wiki in town and it’s called “communi-CAFAS”. A wiki is a website which allows the user not only to read the pages, but directly edit/ comment on its content.

Some of the advantages for using a wiki include reducing email overload, the ability to share a collaborative workspace so content is not duplicated, sharing best practices and reducing travel.

The wiki is a collaborative space that will focus on best practice knowledge for CAFAS and BCFPI tool use across Ontario. It will include reference tools, general information about the CAFAS and BCFPI, best practice procedures, meeting agendas and minutes, CAFAS Subscale Rules, BCFPI protocols, discussion platforms, frequently asked questions, clinical guidelines, workspace for collaborative projects, training and support.

The wiki will facilitate communication among CAFAS-BCFPI users. This will included a bulletin of upcoming events and activities, a calendar of meeting times and other organized events, a discussion forum where community members can exchange ideas, news, and comments, and a members directory.

If you’re part of the CAFAS in Ontario-BCFPI family and are interested in learning more about the wiki or participating and collaborating with your peers across the province, please contact Cristina Vlad or Rhonda Couch.

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In an effort to standardize practices across the province, the Advisory Committee has drafted the following Clinical Guideline for reopening closed CAFAS cases:

Clinicians with clients/patients returning to treatment after their original CAFAS cases had been exited (T14) and closed are required to open a new CAFAS for the returning client.

Each CAFAS case (T1-T14) is regarded as an ‘Episode of Treatment’. Whether a client/patient returns with the same issues, he/she is undergoing a separate episode of treatment which should be captured with a new T1. Each returning client will have a new CAFAS record but will maintain the same ID (as long as they are receiving treatment in the same agency as their previous CAFAS record).

Clinicians will still have the ability to reopen cases in the event that errors need to be corrected. Some examples include: 1) Clinician prematurely closed a case; 2) Clinician is attending to the discrepancies captured in the Audit.