We have tools to support each interaction level as well as assessment tools, templates and best practice guidelines.
Screening and/or assessment are usually the ‘first contact’ a young person and their family/whānau may have with services. It is often the most important and effective intervention practitioners will provide.
There are three levels of first interaction that can be utilised with young people depending on their presentation, the services they present too and the time and skills/knowledge available.
Screening usually involves administering a brief questionnaire. The object of screening is to identify potential areas for further assessment. It is often the starting point of further work and should be a key part of an enhanced response for young people presenting with mental health and addiction issues.
The Substances and Choices Scale (SACS) was developed in New Zealand and validated for use with adolescents aged 13-20 years.
SACS records the number of times a substance has been used over the previous month and rates substance use related symptoms and harm. It is a short, freely available questionnaire which takes about 5 minutes to complete, and has high acceptability, validity and reliability.
Links to SACS resources follow:
SACS has been adapted specifically for brevity and to align with the well-known ABC approach for smoking cessation and alcohol. Based on The SACS Brief Intervention above. The resources incorporate the Substances and Choices Scale (SACS), a youth AOD (alcohol and other drug) screening instrument developed and tested in New Zealand (Christie et al., 2007). SAC ABC is a resource for youth mental health and addiction workers, designed and promoted by Werry Workforce Whāraurau (Christie, 2010).
Administer SACS Screening, review and score (Go to eSACS form)
Deliver Feedback and brief advice (Go to AOD Youth Brief Cards)
Referral for Counselling /Treatment (Go to Service Providers Directory: www.addictionshelp.org.nz/directory )
A simple and effective easy memory aid to screen youth for problematic AOD use and provide brief personally-relevant AOD interventions.
As part of the SACS ABC an electronic version of the SACS (E-SACS) is available.
Email: [email protected]
This video is a demonstration of an AOD worker utilising the SACS Brief Intervention with a young person. This clip illustrates how to utilise the SACS Brief Intervention tool. It should be watched in conjunction with the SACS resources and information available here.
There are a number of free screening tools available to access for addiction and mental health issues.
For more information please access Whāraurau CEP and Youth eLearning - screening and brief intervention module.
Alcohol Use
Smoking / Nicotine
Gambling
Depression and Anxiety screening websites
For those working in the primary care and youth health settings, a good place to start with Brief Assessment is using the HEEADSSS Assessment:
(Home, Education, Eating, Activities, Drugs and alcohol, Suicide and depression, Sexuality and Safety)
Recommended as a simple but thorough framework which allows for early identification of mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues and other information to assist young people in their development.
Comprehensive Assessments may be carried out in different ways, depending on the setting and available resources. Assessment forms can prompt clinicians conducting an assessment to obtain information under specific categories, which can be useful in terms of providing a worker with reminders and ensuring no omissions
When completing a comprehensive assessment there are a number of domains that need to be explored. It is helpful to have a structure to the assessment to ensure all information and areas are discussed.
Below are two format examples of a Comprehensive Assessment and Management plan. We acknowledge Altered High, Auckland and Youth Specialty Services, Christchurch for the adapted version of their Comprehensive assessment forms.
