General Information

The Child & Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale is a rating scale which assesses the youth's degree of impairment in functioning due to emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric problems. It is completed by a staff member and takes about 10 minutes. It is useful for assessing outcome over time and for directing case management activities.

Number of Versions:	1
Version:	Child & Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale
Author(s):	Kay Hodges
Date of Publication:	1990
Material(s) Needed for Test:	Clinical Interview
Manual:	Available
Time to Administer:	10 minutes
Charge for one form or kit:	Yes

Purpose and Nature of Test

Construct(s) Measured:	Aggression, Conduct problems
Population for which designed:	Age Range: 7 through 17 years old Grade Level: First Grade to High School Senior
Method of Administration:	Individual
Subtests and Scores:	School, Home, Community (Delinquent-like Behavior), Behavior Toward Others, Mood/Emotions, Self-Harmful Behavior, Substance Use, Thinking Problems, Material Needs, Family/Social Support
Number of Items:	315
Type of Scale:	Multiple response option

Technical Evaluation

Norms: 

Sample Size:	4,758
Population:	Children referred for mental health services at three army bases: Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; Ft. Campbell, Kentucky; and Ft. Stewart, Georgia.
Culture/ethnicity:	African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic/Latino
SES Level:	Low to Middle

Reliability: 

Psychometric information:	Provided for Full Scales.
The range of Test-Retest Value:	0.78
The range of Inter-rater reliability:	0.92
The range of Internal consistency:	0.73 to 0.78

Validity: 

 Criterion validity was assessed and found to be acceptable.

Practical Evaluation

Scoring Procedure:	Manual and Computer Scoring
Examiner Qualifications and Training Required:	None
Permission Required to Use Instrument:	Yes
If yes, by whom:	Kay Hodges

Notes

Original Reference(s):	Hodges, K. (1990, 1994 revision). Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale. Ypsilanti, MI: Eastern Michigan University, Department of Psychology.
Other Reference(s):	Hodges, K., & Gust, J. (1995). Measures of impairment for children and adoelscents. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 22 (4), 403-413. Hodges, K., & Wong, M. M. (1996). Psychometric characteristics of a multidimensional measure to assess impairment: The Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 5 (4), 445-467. Hodges, K., & Wong, M. M. (1997). Use of the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment scale to predict service utilization and cost. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 24 (3), 278-290. Hodges, K., Wong, M. M., & Latessa, M. (1998). Use of the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) as an outcome measure in clinical settings. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 25 (3), 325-336. Hodges, K. (1999). The use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcome assessment (2nd ed.). In M. Maruish, The use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcome assessment (pp. 321-664). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbuam. Hodges, K., Doucette-Gates, A., & Liao, Q. (1999). The relationshiop between the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) and indicators of functioning. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 8 (1), 109-122. Quist, R. M., & Matshazi, D. G. M. (2000). The Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS): A dynamic predictor of juvenile recidivism. Adolescence, 35 (137), 181-192. Hodges, K., Doucette-Gates, A., & Kim, C-S. (2000). Predicting service utilization with the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale in a sample of youths with serious emotional disturbance served by center for mental health services - funded demonstrations. Journal of Behavioral Helath Services and Research, 27 (1), 47-59. Hodges, K., & Kim, C-S. (2000). Psychometric study of the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale: Prediction of contact with the law and poor school attendance. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28 (3), 287-297.
Other:	There is also a version of the Child & Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale that can be used with children ages 4 to 7.

Contact

Name:	Kay Hodges
Organization:	Functional Assessments Systems, L. L. C.
Address:	2140 Old Earhart Rd.
City:	Ann Arbor
State:	MI
Zip:	48105
Phone:	(734) 769-9725
Fax:	(734) 769-1434
E-mail:	hodges@provide.net

Last updated by Violence Institute of New Jersey:  August 2006