Child's Needs
Child’s Needs Assessment utilizes a scaling system to determine the priority needs of the child through the life of the case.
Emotion/Trauma​:
The child's patterns of emotional self-management and trauma impact.
Emotion/Trauma Example:
Child is able to smile and express happiness when positive things occur in their life. When the child is upset about life events, the child is easily comforted. Child rarely has uncontrolled or negative behaviors.
Emotion/Trauma Example:
Child displays some moments of sadness or distress at times. When experiencing distress, child is able to be soothed and comforted without major disruptions to their day.
Emotion/Trauma Example:
Child frequently has difficulty sleeping or staying awake, episodes of bed wetting, and is overeating and/or under-eating. These trauma symptoms are having some impact in their life.
Emotion/Trauma Example:
Child experiences out-of-control anger, profound sadness, and/or self-harming behaviors. Sleep disruption, bed wetting, and eating patterns are causing significant harm to the child.
Behavior​:
The child's ability to cope and manage behaviors.
Behavior Example:
Child positively manages their behaviors in all settings. Child is cautious and understands their actions have consequences. Child frequently chooses positive behaviors.
Behavior Example:
Child is often able to positively manage their behaviors. The child seldom displays negative behaviors (temper tantrums or outbursts). Child has only one noted behavior outburst at childcare within the past 6 months.
Behavior Example:
Child sometimes violates rules and displays negative behaviors. Caregiver's have difficulty in managing the negative behaviors. Child has few instances of running away, DJJ involvement, or school suspension.
Behavior Example:
Child frequently violates rules and displays negative behaviors. Caregiver's are unable to manage the negative behaviors. Child displays self-injurious, extreme violence, sexual violence, cruelty to animals, or fire-setting.
Development/ Early Learning*​:
Assessment of developmental milestones for a child 5 and younger.
Development Example:
Child is meeting all milestones ahead of or on time. Child is able to babble, sit without support, crawl, and grasps items with both hands.
Development Example:
Child is meeting most milestones and is demonstrating positive progress after playing just a few times with sensory motor bins. Child is cruising and walking with little assistance.
Development Example:
Child shows some delays in development and is slowly gaining goals in developmental services. After six months of physical therapy, child is just starting to walk without assistance.
Development Example:
Child shows significant delays in development and is not achieving developmental goals. After two years of intensive speech therapy, child is lacking fluency, articulation, and sound knowledge.
Education*​:
Assessment of the child's academic success for a child 6 and older.
Education Example:
Child is reading at or well above grade level and is meeting and exceeding all requirements for grade-level promotions with or without an IEP or other accommodations.
Education Example:
Child is reading at or close to grade level and is adequately meeting all requirements for grade-level promotions.
Education Example:
Child is reading a year below grade level and is meeting some but not all requirements for grade-level promotions. Child is only meeting some of the goals set forth in an IEP, 504 plan, or other accommodations.
Education Example:
Child is reading two years below grade level and is not meeting core requirements for grade-level promotions. Child is not meeting any of the goals set forth in an IEP, 504 plan, or other accommodations.
Physical Health/Disability:
The child's physical health status (medical/dental).
Physical Health Example:
Child is completely healthy and thriving. Child uses an over-the-counter lotion for the few instances of dry skin irritation.
Physical Health Example:
Child is mostly healthy. Child maintains their asthma with a steroid inhaler and has only one instance of going to a walk-in clinic for difficulty breathing when afflicted with a cold last month.
Physical Health Example:
Child is sometimes experiencing health concerns. Child has been hospitalized once in the last six months with complications due to their diabetes.
Physical Health Example:
Child is often experiencing health concerns. Child has been hospitalized twice in the last month with complications due to their cerebral palsy.
Family Relationships:
The child 's ability to form and maintain relationships with family members.
Family Example:
Child always feels safe and happy with family members. Child loves eating dinner with the family each night and playing board games.
Family Example:
Child generally feels comfortable with family members and expresses normal minor conflicts. Child enjoys playing with siblings but screams and hits when they do not give them a turn playing.
Family Example:
Child sometimes feels concerned when interacting with family. Child has felt isolated from the family. Child struggles to list positive family activities.
Family Example:
Child experiences persistent conflict with one or more family members that makes it extremely uncomfortable. Child feels like they have no family. Child has no positive family interactions.
Peer/Adult Relationships:
The child 's ability to form and maintain relationships with peers and non-relative adults.
Peer Example:
Child excels in making and maintaining friendships. Child describes playing X-Box with their best friend Iggy . Teacher reports that child is a positive role model and leader in the school.
Peer Example:
Child has some positive friendships. Teacher reports that child plays well with others but is at times alone in class.
Peer Example:
Child has some difficulty making or maintaining friendships. Child only has very limited social interactions during soccer practice and games.
Peer Example:
Child has extreme difficulty making or maintaining friendships. Child has experienced social isolation, ostracism, and bullying.
Cultural Identity:
The child's understanding of race, ethnicity, religion, LGBTQ, and values.
Culture Example:
Child fully understands and practices the family's religion by attending temple every week. Child easily expresses significant family values; for instance, honoring Shabbat dinner.
Culture Example:
Child is aware of their family's heritage and spiritual practice; To better understand their heritage, child is starting to practice their Spanish with their grandma once a week and is learning to cook arroz con pollo.
Culture Example:
Child just recently became aware that they are bi-racial. Child has begun seeking guidance and information concerning their race online and has signed up for a mentor.
Culture Example:
Child has no knowledge of their family's culture, heritage, or spiritual practices. Child lacks support system to obtain knowledge about culture. Child displays no concern or desire to learn their heritage or culture.
Substance Awareness:
The child’s awareness of the impact of alcohol and drugs.
Substance Example:
Child fully understands the dangers of drugs (illicit and prescribed) and alcohol consumption. Child has and promises to continue refraining from drug and alcohol use.
Substance Example:
Child has an understanding of the dangers of drugs (illicit and prescribed) and alcohol consumption. Child promises to refrain from drug and alcohol use.
Substance Example:
Child has limited knowledge of the dangers of drug and alcohol consumption. Child has used drugs and/or alcohol a limited amount of times without severe consequences.
Substance Example:
Child uses drugs and/or alcohol on a regular basis and this has led to decreased school performance, disruption of social network, arrest, injury, and/or illness.
Life Skills*:
Assessment of independent living skills for a child 13 and older.
Life Skills Example:
Child has been accepted to a university and completed their financial aid application. Child has performed community service for the past year. Child is able to cook elaborate meals, wash/dry laundry, and maintain a household budget.
Life Skills Example:
Child is beginning to perform household chores and cook simple meals. Child is seeking out guidance on how to properly budget for the future. Child is narrowing down their future occupation goals.
Life Skills Example:
Although 17, child has not obtained their driver's license and is only beginning to study for the exam. Child has a very limited ability to perform basic household chores.
Life Skills Example:
Child is not able to describe personal or professional goals. Child is unaware of how to financially support themselves as an adult. Child is completely unable to cook simple meals or perform basic household chores.