The CASII was developed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry . This tool links clinical assessments with levels of care, quantifying clinical severity and service needs. The instrument looks at psychiatric, substance abuse, and developmental disorders. The CASII draws from both clinical expertise as well as system of care values, which require services to be child-centered, family-driven, culturally competent, and individualized to the child's needs. While primarily designed for initial level of care placement, the instrument also may be used for fee-for-service utilization management. In Maryland, the CASII has been used in assessing medical necessity criteria for the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility 1915(c) Demonstration Waiver (referred to as the "RTC Waiver") and similar use is planned for future initiatives.

For more information on the CASII, please visit the AACAP website: http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/member_information/practice_information/casii

Contact Info:

Jennifer Lowther, Project Director
jlowther@ssw.umaryland.edu
410-706-6386