CANS Study Guide – Complete With Correct Answers
Sexual Development: Marquis is a 17-year-old boy. He has had three sexual
partners in his life, ages 20, 22, and 28. Right Ans - 2
Judgment/Decision Making: 16-year-old Tony enjoys getting drunk and taking
his parents' vehicle out for joy rides. Right Ans - 3
Legal: 14-year-old Don has been arrested in the past for theft, but not in the
last year. Right Ans - 1
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. Right Ans - 2
Job Functioning: Tommy was recently fired from his fast food job for missing
work and being rude to the manager. Right Ans - 3
Developmental/Intellectual Disability: A child's intellectual functioning is so
poor that it prevents valid testing. Right Ans - 3
Family Strengths: Carmen's parental rights have been terminated; she has no
other known family members. Right Ans - 3
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. Right Ans - 2
Optimism: 17-year-old Dante plans to go to medical school. He knows if he
studies hard in his classes he can do it. Right Ans - 0
Educational Setting: 15-year-old Trumaine has recently returned home from a
residential placement. No school has been identified for him at this time.
Right Ans - 3
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. Right Ans - 1
,Talents/Interests: Sarah won the most valuable player award of her swim
team and is team captain. Right Ans - 0
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. Right Ans - 0
Community Involvement: This past year, Jill became involved in community
center activities including joining a soccer team. Right Ans - 1
Natural Supports: Natalie has neighbors who have helped her get a summer
job for a few years. Right Ans - 1
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. Right Ans - 2
Child/Youth Involvement with Care: 9-year-old Ben is not knowledgeable of
his needs. Right Ans - 3
Coping and Survival Skills: Don manages adversity quite well, but does not
seem to have much fun. Right Ans - 1
Resiliency: Jen's caregiver has become interested in yoga and is starting to
meditate when she is anxious or distressed. Right Ans - 1
Family Functioning: The family is managing well. Right Ans - 0
Living Situation: Nancy has the occasional fight at home with her parents; her
parents are concerned about her behavior at home. Right Ans - 1
School/Day Care: A 13-year-old girl's school behavior has resulted in her
being sent to see the school principal Right Ans - 2
Social Functioning: Terrance is socially withdrawn and isolated; he has
minimal social interactions Right Ans - 3
, 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. Right Ans
-3
Communication: Donnelle has selective mutism and refuses to speak. He also
refuses to point to aid in communication. Right Ans - 3
Physical Health: Cailin has asthma. She is able to take part in gym class if she
has her puffer. Right Ans - 1
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.
Right Ans - 2
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. Right Ans - 2
Personal Hygiene/ Self-Care: Bronwyn forgets to brush her teeth, but no one
notices. Right Ans - 1
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. Right Ans - 3
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. Right Ans - 3
Suicide Risk: 15-year-old Amanda was released from the hospital today after a
5 day stay resulting from her attempt to slit her wrists. She currently reports
no active suicidal ideation. Right Ans - 2
Reckless Behavior (Other Self Harm): A 16-year-old boy has received 3
speeding tickets since getting his license six months ago. Right Ans - 2
Danger to Others: Bryan has been in several fights recently. In one fight last
week, he broke the nose of another youth. Right Ans - 2
Sexual Development: Marquis is a 17-year-old boy. He has had three sexual
partners in his life, ages 20, 22, and 28. Right Ans - 2
Judgment/Decision Making: 16-year-old Tony enjoys getting drunk and taking
his parents' vehicle out for joy rides. Right Ans - 3
Legal: 14-year-old Don has been arrested in the past for theft, but not in the
last year. Right Ans - 1
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. Right Ans - 2
Job Functioning: Tommy was recently fired from his fast food job for missing
work and being rude to the manager. Right Ans - 3
Developmental/Intellectual Disability: A child's intellectual functioning is so
poor that it prevents valid testing. Right Ans - 3
Family Strengths: Carmen's parental rights have been terminated; she has no
other known family members. Right Ans - 3
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. Right Ans - 2
Optimism: 17-year-old Dante plans to go to medical school. He knows if he
studies hard in his classes he can do it. Right Ans - 0
Educational Setting: 15-year-old Trumaine has recently returned home from a
residential placement. No school has been identified for him at this time.
Right Ans - 3
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. Right Ans - 1
,Talents/Interests: Sarah won the most valuable player award of her swim
team and is team captain. Right Ans - 0
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. Right Ans - 0
Community Involvement: This past year, Jill became involved in community
center activities including joining a soccer team. Right Ans - 1
Natural Supports: Natalie has neighbors who have helped her get a summer
job for a few years. Right Ans - 1
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. Right Ans - 2
Child/Youth Involvement with Care: 9-year-old Ben is not knowledgeable of
his needs. Right Ans - 3
Coping and Survival Skills: Don manages adversity quite well, but does not
seem to have much fun. Right Ans - 1
Resiliency: Jen's caregiver has become interested in yoga and is starting to
meditate when she is anxious or distressed. Right Ans - 1
Family Functioning: The family is managing well. Right Ans - 0
Living Situation: Nancy has the occasional fight at home with her parents; her
parents are concerned about her behavior at home. Right Ans - 1
School/Day Care: A 13-year-old girl's school behavior has resulted in her
being sent to see the school principal Right Ans - 2
Social Functioning: Terrance is socially withdrawn and isolated; he has
minimal social interactions Right Ans - 3
, 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. Right Ans
-3
Communication: Donnelle has selective mutism and refuses to speak. He also
refuses to point to aid in communication. Right Ans - 3
Physical Health: Cailin has asthma. She is able to take part in gym class if she
has her puffer. Right Ans - 1
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.
Right Ans - 2
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. Right Ans - 2
Personal Hygiene/ Self-Care: Bronwyn forgets to brush her teeth, but no one
notices. Right Ans - 1
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. Right Ans - 3
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. Right Ans - 3
Suicide Risk: 15-year-old Amanda was released from the hospital today after a
5 day stay resulting from her attempt to slit her wrists. She currently reports
no active suicidal ideation. Right Ans - 2
Reckless Behavior (Other Self Harm): A 16-year-old boy has received 3
speeding tickets since getting his license six months ago. Right Ans - 2
Danger to Others: Bryan has been in several fights recently. In one fight last
week, he broke the nose of another youth. Right Ans - 2
