CANS Study Guide With Complete
Updated Solutions 2023-2024
Family Strengths: Carmen's parental rights have been terminated; she has no other known family
members. - ANWERS3
Interpersonal Skills: 4-year-old Mindy is very shy. It takes a lot of prompting for her to play with
others. When prompted, she will attempt to play with the other children. - ANWERS2
Optimism: 17-year-old Dante plans to go to medical school. He knows if he studies hard in his classes
he can do it. - ANWERS0
Educational Setting: 15-year-old Trumaine has recently returned home from a residential placement.
No school has been identified for him at this time. - ANWERS3
Vocational: Jamie is really good at fixing things. He does not want to fix things for a living, however,
he wants to be a writer. - ANWERS1
Talents/Interests: Sarah won the most valuable player award of her swim team and is team captain. -
ANWERS0
Spiritual/Religious: 17-year-old Tracy sings in the church choir and participates in many youth
activities. She states that her beliefs give her comfort and that she prays when distressed. -
ANWERS0
Community Involvement: This past year, Jill became involved in community center activities
including joining a soccer team. - ANWERS1
,Natural Supports: Natalie has neighbors who have helped her get a summer job for a few years. -
ANWERS1
Relationship Permanence: 12-year-old Natasha is living in her third foster home. Her permanency
plan calls for her to live with her mother; her mother participates fully in supervised visitation. -
ANWERS2
Child/Youth Involvement with Care: 9-year-old Ben is not knowledgeable of his needs. - ANWERS3
Coping and Survival Skills: Don manages adversity quite well, but does not seem to have much fun. -
ANWERS1
Resiliency: Jen's caregiver has become interested in yoga and is starting to meditate when she is
anxious or distressed. - ANWERS1
Family Functioning: The family is managing well. - ANWERS0
Living Situation: Nancy has the occasional fight at home with her parents; her parents are concerned
about her behavior at home. - ANWERS1
School/Day Care: A 13-year-old girl's school behavior has resulted in her being sent to see the school
principal - ANWERS2
Social Functioning: Terrance is socially withdrawn and isolated; he has minimal social interactions -
ANWERS3
Recreation/Play in Young Children: 5-year-old Patrick tends to cling to adults while other children
play. When he does play, it is unimaginative. - ANWERS3
Communication: Donnelle has selective mutism and refuses to speak. He also refuses to point to aid
in communication. - ANWERS3
Physical Health: Cailin has asthma. She is able to take part in gym class if she has her puffer. -
ANWERS1
, Sleep: Reggie is a 16-year-old who stays out late on school nights and then sleeps during class. He
often does not get a full night of sleep during the week. - ANWERS2
Elimination: Monica doesn't like going to the bathroom in public places. She will hold it in if she has
to. Her mother reported to the doctor that Monica complains of frequent stomachaches. - ANWERS2
Personal Hygiene/ Self-Care: Bronwyn forgets to brush her teeth, but no one notices. - ANWERS1
Gender Identity: James reports feeling like he should have been born a girl instead of a boy. When
he told his father, his father threatened to throw him out of the house if James brought it up again.
James is so stressed about this that he has been losing sleep. - ANWERS3
Sexual Development: Marquis is a 17-year-old boy. He has had three sexual partners in his life, ages
20, 22, and 28. - ANWERS2
Judgment/Decision Making: 16-year-old Tony enjoys getting drunk and taking his parents' vehicle
out for joy rides. - ANWERS3
Legal: 14-year-old Don has been arrested in the past for theft, but not in the last year. - ANWERS1
Independent Living Skills: Darnell is a 16-year-old boy who will not bathe if his parents do not tell
him to. His parents are worried that when he moves out one day that he will never bathe. They
believe that some outside supports will be able to address the issue. - ANWERS2
Job Functioning: Tommy was recently fired from his fast food job for missing work and being rude to
the manager. - ANWERS3
Developmental/Intellectual Disability: A child's intellectual functioning is so poor that it prevents
valid testing. - ANWERS3
Self-Injurious Behaviour: 8-year-old Ryan has been banging his head repeatedly against the floor. His
skull has begun to change shape because of this behavior and he has started to have painful
headaches. - ANWERS3
Updated Solutions 2023-2024
Family Strengths: Carmen's parental rights have been terminated; she has no other known family
members. - ANWERS3
Interpersonal Skills: 4-year-old Mindy is very shy. It takes a lot of prompting for her to play with
others. When prompted, she will attempt to play with the other children. - ANWERS2
Optimism: 17-year-old Dante plans to go to medical school. He knows if he studies hard in his classes
he can do it. - ANWERS0
Educational Setting: 15-year-old Trumaine has recently returned home from a residential placement.
No school has been identified for him at this time. - ANWERS3
Vocational: Jamie is really good at fixing things. He does not want to fix things for a living, however,
he wants to be a writer. - ANWERS1
Talents/Interests: Sarah won the most valuable player award of her swim team and is team captain. -
ANWERS0
Spiritual/Religious: 17-year-old Tracy sings in the church choir and participates in many youth
activities. She states that her beliefs give her comfort and that she prays when distressed. -
ANWERS0
Community Involvement: This past year, Jill became involved in community center activities
including joining a soccer team. - ANWERS1
,Natural Supports: Natalie has neighbors who have helped her get a summer job for a few years. -
ANWERS1
Relationship Permanence: 12-year-old Natasha is living in her third foster home. Her permanency
plan calls for her to live with her mother; her mother participates fully in supervised visitation. -
ANWERS2
Child/Youth Involvement with Care: 9-year-old Ben is not knowledgeable of his needs. - ANWERS3
Coping and Survival Skills: Don manages adversity quite well, but does not seem to have much fun. -
ANWERS1
Resiliency: Jen's caregiver has become interested in yoga and is starting to meditate when she is
anxious or distressed. - ANWERS1
Family Functioning: The family is managing well. - ANWERS0
Living Situation: Nancy has the occasional fight at home with her parents; her parents are concerned
about her behavior at home. - ANWERS1
School/Day Care: A 13-year-old girl's school behavior has resulted in her being sent to see the school
principal - ANWERS2
Social Functioning: Terrance is socially withdrawn and isolated; he has minimal social interactions -
ANWERS3
Recreation/Play in Young Children: 5-year-old Patrick tends to cling to adults while other children
play. When he does play, it is unimaginative. - ANWERS3
Communication: Donnelle has selective mutism and refuses to speak. He also refuses to point to aid
in communication. - ANWERS3
Physical Health: Cailin has asthma. She is able to take part in gym class if she has her puffer. -
ANWERS1
, Sleep: Reggie is a 16-year-old who stays out late on school nights and then sleeps during class. He
often does not get a full night of sleep during the week. - ANWERS2
Elimination: Monica doesn't like going to the bathroom in public places. She will hold it in if she has
to. Her mother reported to the doctor that Monica complains of frequent stomachaches. - ANWERS2
Personal Hygiene/ Self-Care: Bronwyn forgets to brush her teeth, but no one notices. - ANWERS1
Gender Identity: James reports feeling like he should have been born a girl instead of a boy. When
he told his father, his father threatened to throw him out of the house if James brought it up again.
James is so stressed about this that he has been losing sleep. - ANWERS3
Sexual Development: Marquis is a 17-year-old boy. He has had three sexual partners in his life, ages
20, 22, and 28. - ANWERS2
Judgment/Decision Making: 16-year-old Tony enjoys getting drunk and taking his parents' vehicle
out for joy rides. - ANWERS3
Legal: 14-year-old Don has been arrested in the past for theft, but not in the last year. - ANWERS1
Independent Living Skills: Darnell is a 16-year-old boy who will not bathe if his parents do not tell
him to. His parents are worried that when he moves out one day that he will never bathe. They
believe that some outside supports will be able to address the issue. - ANWERS2
Job Functioning: Tommy was recently fired from his fast food job for missing work and being rude to
the manager. - ANWERS3
Developmental/Intellectual Disability: A child's intellectual functioning is so poor that it prevents
valid testing. - ANWERS3
Self-Injurious Behaviour: 8-year-old Ryan has been banging his head repeatedly against the floor. His
skull has begun to change shape because of this behavior and he has started to have painful
headaches. - ANWERS3
