The Colorado Family Support Assessment, Version 2.0 (CFSA 2.0)
Description / Purpose:
The cross-domain Colorado Family Support Assessment, Version 2.0 tool is designed to assess baseline and follow-up family strengths and needs, monitor progress towards economic security, health, and increased conditions that protect against child maltreatment.
The tool has three parts with a total of 37 items:
- Part A: Objective indicators assess a family’s status in 14 domains. Eight of which comprise the Economic Self-Sufficiency Scale (includes income, employment, housing, transportation, food security, adult education, cash savings, and health coverage), two additional domains comprise the Health Scale (includes health and mental health), with four remaining domains (includes childcare, child education, debt management, and substance abuse).
- Part B: FRIENDS’ Protective Factors Survey which assesses multiple factors to prevent child abuse and neglect.
- Part C: Readiness-to-Change Scale to assist families to self-prioritize areas for change and goal setting.
Target Population: CFSA 2.0 is designed for use with individual adults and caregivers from diverse populations. The tool is appropriate for use with any family/individual who is ready to set goals and make a change in one or more of the 14 domains. The tool has been used with families referred by a local Department of Human/Social Service or other family service agency, families participating in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) Program, families who are participating in parenting classes, and families who are identified as those who would benefit from more assistance in the 14 domains of Part A or in the Protective Factors Survey.
Time to Administer: The time to complete the CFSA 2.0 baseline assessment and each follow up assessment, conducted at 31–90-day intervals, may average 45–60 minutes per administration. This is due to the client-led conversation administration format and the use of Motivational Interviewing skills.
Completed By: The tool is intended to be used by trained service providers at organizations with a culture that values parents and other caregivers as equal partners in identifying their own prioritized goals to increase their economic security and health outcomes. Trained family development workers administer Part A of the tool using an interview format to identify family strengths and areas of need. The family fills out Part B. Part C is completed using an interview format in partnership with families to identify their areas for growth and change resulting in a service plan.
Modalities Available: Computerized, Pen and Paper
Scoring Information: There is no cumulative score; rather each part is scored independently. Part A includes key definitions and a scale for each domain, which is used to score those 14 items either by hand or on a computer by the trained service provider. Part B is scored using the Protective Factors Survey Administration Guidance and may be filled out by hand by the adult/caregiver. Part C is scored using a readiness scale that is included in the tool. Primarily the tool is hand scored and reviewed with the adult/caregiver when completing Part C for goal-setting purposes. FRCA’s database features both computerized scoring and reporting functionality of the tool.
Languages Available: Arabic, English, Spanish, Vietnamese
Training Requirements for Intended Users: There is a training package that is required to be completed before any staff member can administer the CFSA 2.0 which includes: Pre-requirement: Completion of the Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening and Support Programs (12 hours over two-days), offered through state networks or the National Family Support Network. Administration of the CFSA 2.0, including basic Motivational Interviewing skills to help families create self-identified goals (14 hours over two-days), offered through Family Resource Center Association. After completion of these trainings, an individual licensing agreement is provided for the staff/trainee to administer the tool. Additionally, a one-time agency licensing agreement is required. There is no minimum degree or professional licensing requirement to administer the tool.
Availability: There are two costs to begin using the CFSA 2.0: Administration fee: This is a one-time licensing fee of $150 per agency. Training fees per staff member/trainee: $225 covers the Administration of the CFSA 2.0 training, including basic Motivational Interviewing skills. Pre-required Standard of Quality for Family Strengthening and Support Programs training cost varies by training network from $0-125 per trainee. After completion of the required training, the English, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Spanish digital versions of the tool are provided to the staff/agency. Optional Cost: Use of the FRCA database for computerized scoring and reporting has an annual subscription cost of $10,000.
Contact Information
- Company: Family Resource Center Association
- Website: www.cofamilycenters.org
- Name: Teri Haymond
- Email: thaymond@cofamilycenters.org
- Phone: (303) 388-1001 x104
Summary of Relevant Psychometric Research
This tool has received the Measurement Tools Rating of "B – Psychometrics Demonstrated" based on the published, peer-reviewed research available. The tool must have 1 published, peer-reviewed study that has established the measure’s psychometrics (e.g., reliability and validity, sensitivity and specificity, etc.). Please see the Measurement Tools Rating Scale for more information.
Richmond, M. K., Pampel, F. C., Zarcula, F., Howey, V., & McChesney, B. (2015). Reliability of the Colorado Family Support Assessment: A self-sufficiency matrix for families. Research on Social Work Practice, 27(6), 695–703. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731515596072
Sample:
Participants — 24 family advocates
Race/Ethnicity — 91% White, 21% Hispanic or Latino, and 9% Black or African American
Summary:
The study examined the reliability of the Colorado Family Support Assessment 2.0 (CFSA 2.0) to measure family self-reliance across 14 domains (e.g., employment). Ten written case studies were developed. Family advocates independently coded each case study on each domain of the CFSA 2.0. Intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficients were calculated to determine the level of agreement between participants. Rating accuracy was calculated by subtracting the correct score for each domain and case study from the score given by the raters. ICCs ranged from 0.79 to 0.96. Across all domains and case studies, family advocates were 84.4% accurate. Allowing for minor deviations (off by 1 on the 5-point scale) shows 96% accuracy. The validity of the measure is not examined.
Richmond, M. K., Bayless, S. D., & Haymond, T. M. (2024). A validation study of the Colorado Family Support Assessment 2.0. Children and Youth Services Review, 163, Article 107730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107730
Sample:
Participants — 3,580 families in Colorado
Race/Ethnicity — 57% White, 40% Hispanic or Latino, 7% Black or African American, 6% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 2% Declined/Missing, 0.8% Asian, and 0.7% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
Summary:
The study tested the psychometric properties, criterion-related validity, and responsiveness over time of an interview-based assessment of family strengths and needs, the Colorado Family Support Assessment (CFSA 2.0). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) validated a two-factor structure (economic self-sufficiency and health) of Part A of the tool. Invariance tests supported configural, metric, and scalar invariance over repeated measures and across rural/urban residences, suggesting that familiarity does not change the meaning of the domain scores at the second administration from the first, and that the economic self-sufficiency and health scales are manifesting similarly for families living in rural and urban regions. Configural and metric (but not scalar) invariance was supported across five different racial and ethnic groups. Additionally, controlling for family characteristics, families with unmet needs at Family Resource Center (FRC) entry had lower economic self-sufficiency scores than other families, supporting criterion-related validity. Finally, multi-level growth models demonstrated that the tool was sensitive to changes in family self-sufficiency over time. Overall, findings support family support programs’ use of the CFSA 2.0 as an outcome measure that assesses family self-sufficiency over time and across contexts.
Date Reviewed: July 2024 (Originally reviewed in May 2023)
