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2025 Q3 CAS Assessor Training Series

Welcome to the 2025 Q3 CAS Assessor Training Series

This series provides a comprehensive training program designed for new and renewing CAS Assessors.

Training sessions will be held every Tuesday from August 5 to September 23, 2025. Each session will enhance your social work skills and equip you with the competencies needed to help resolve homelessness.

Please note that HMIS certification is required to access the HMIS assessments covered in the training.

Q3 Training Topics:

  • CAS 101 & Best Practices
  • HMIS for CAS Assessors | Developing ISPs
  • Document Readiness & Post Assessment Practices
  • Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care
  • Preventing Vicarious Trauma in Case Management
  • Introduction to Conversational Case Management

Upcoming CAS Assessor Trainings

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Core Training

Training 1: CAS 101 & Best Practices
August 5, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. PDT

This 90-minute, 2-part introductory training on the Coordinated Access System (CAS), its purpose, guiding principles, and key resources will give you a clear understanding of CAS and its various roles in providing support.

Participants will learn the role of CAS Assessors, how to prioritize Extremely Vulnerable Households (EVH), and how to effectively use tools like 2-1-1 to connect clients with housing and support. This training will help you better understand assessments, agreements, and more.

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Training 2: HMIS for CAS Assessors | Developing ISPs
August 12, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. PDT

Join your SSF HMIS & CAS team to help you develop confidence in understanding the new CAS Agency and your responsibilities as an authorized CAS Assessor.

Expect to gain more confidence in completing the four major assessments required for CAS Agency operations. Learn how to effectively capture Coordinated Entry Events within CAS Agency Programs to support more effective client services.

In Part 2, with our CAS leadership, you will learn how to interpret CAS assessment results, create client-centered Individualized Service Plans (ISPs), and immediately resource clients who qualify as Extremely Vulnerable Households (EVH) using human-centered practices.

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Training 3: Document Readiness & Post-Assessment Practices
August 26, 2025, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. PDT

Join the SSF team to get an in-depth understanding of “Doc-readiness” requirements for CAS-participating housing programs. You will be equipped with skills to update client housing progress using case conferencing and referral tools. Attendees will explore the eligibility criteria, resources, and sub-population supports offered by various CAS programs.

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Training 4: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care September 9, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PDT This training provides an introduction to Trauma Informed Care (TIC) practices and skills to implement in your daily work as a CAS Assessor. Participants will learn to understand the impact of trauma, recognize some of its signs, and apply TIC strategies to potentially create a supportive and empowering environment for clients. This training gives you the tools to foster empathy and enhance your ability to respond effectively to your clients.
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Training 5: Preventing Vicarious Trauma in Case Management September 16, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PDT Vicarious trauma is a part of case work. This introductory course explores vicarious trauma, its impact on those working with clients and colleagues in the HRS, and how it differs from burnout and compassion fatigue. You will learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma and identify risk factors in your work environment. The course will also provide practical strategies for prevention and self-care, helping participants develop a plan to manage the emotional challenges of this work.
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Training 6: Introduction to Conversational Case Management September 23, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. PDT This training equips case managers with essential conversational techniques to support clients effectively in achieving their housing goals. Participants will learn and apply conversational case management principles, motivational interviewing techniques, and housing problem-solving strategies to foster client engagement and rapid exits from homelessness.
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CAS Office Hours

Every Monday from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Email: CAS@sacstepsforward.org

Resources

CAS Assessor Frequently Asked Questions

CAS Assessor Essentials

What is a CAS Assessor?

CAS Assessors are HMIS users who have been trained in how to administer assessments on behalf of the Coordinated Access System.

How do I become a CAS Assessor?
To become a CAS Assessor, you must first complete your HMIS training and certification. Once completed, you can request CAS Assessor training.
What is the CAS Assessor certification, and do I have to do it?

All CAS Assessors must complete annual recertification requirements to remain a CAS Assessor. Current CAS Assessors have until the end of October 2024 to complete their recertification.

I was out on leave and missed the re-certification deadline. Can I still be a CAS Assessor?

If you’re a CAS Assessor who was out on leave or other extenuating circumstances, please contact CAS@sacstepsforward.org to request an extension.

CAS Assessments

I can’t find the assessments, where are they located now?
CAS assessments can be found under the Sacramento CoC Coordinated Access System (CAS) agency in HMIS. You will first need to complete the CAS: Households Experiencing Homelessness – CE program enrollment. Once completed, the assessments will appear under the program’s assessment tab.
If my client has a VI-SPDAT/Shelter Survey, do I need to reassess them with the new tools?

If your client was assessed with the VI-SPDAT, you will need to reassess them with the Housing Conversation Tool (HCT) before 1/20/25 to remain eligible for CAS-participating housing programs.

If your client was assessed with the shelter survey, you will need to reassess them with the Crisis Assessment within 90 days of their last shelter survey or 1/20/25, whichever is sooner, to remain eligible for CAS-participating shelter programs.

How frequently should I reassess my client?

The Crisis Assessment expires after 90 days. The HCT expires after 15 months.

You should reassess the client more frequently if they experience significant life events or changes.

What order should I conduct the CAS-specific assessments?
  1. Client profile and release of information
  2. Program enrollment (enroll all household members)
  3. Current Living Situation (required)
  4. Crisis Assessment (if client is interested in crisis resources – such as emergency shelter or PSAPs)
  5. Housing Conversation Tool (if client is interested in housing resources such as rapid rehousing or permanent supportive housing.)
  6. Individualized Service Plan (always completed after the HCT)
  7. Referral and Case Conferencing Tool (to update doc-readiness status)
If I only conduct the crisis assessment, do I still have to do the individualized service plan (ISP)?

No, the ISP should only be completed after the HCT.

When do I have to complete the ISP?

You must complete or update the ISP after conducting the HCT, every time. There are sample ISPs and further guidance in the Best Practice Guide.

If I work with a Victim Service Provider (VSP), what process do I follow?

VSPs should only be conducting HCTs with anonymous client profiles. VSPs do not need to complete the ISP afterward.

If I make a mistake or the client changes their answers, can I edit their responses to the assessment in HMIS?

No. You should never edit an assessment record (except for ISPs and Case Conferencing tools). HMIS has a built-in “cascade” feature that allows responses to auto-generate if completed within 60 days of each other. Meaning, if you make a mistake, save your assessment and complete a new assessment – your original responses will automatically populate, and you can fix your error before saving the new assessment.

Should a couple with no children complete separate Crisis Assessments?

Ultimately, it’s up to the couple. However, the clients should know that if they ever separate, they will need to complete individual assessments.

Where can I find a sample ISP?

Sample ISPs and much more can be found in our Best Practice Guide.

There are some redundant questions between the assessments, do I have to ask the client the same questions twice?

If the assessments are completed within 60 days of each other, you do not need to ask the questions a second time. However, if the client’s circumstances have changed significantly since the last time, you should ask all the questions again.

Client Prioritization

How do I know if my client is going to be prioritized for shelter? Or “How can I find out what spot my client is at on the waitlist.”

Due to limited shelter capacity, clients are prioritized for shelter resources based on vulnerability factors that make someone more likely to die or experience adverse health outcomes by remaining unsheltered. Each shelter maintains its own eligibility and, in some cases, prioritization factors. This means a client may have multiple spots on the waitlists, and those spots can and often do shift daily. HOWEVER, CAS has developed the extremely vulnerable household (EVH) policy to help CAS Assessors know who is likely to be prioritized for shelter.

A client is considered EVH if they score six or higher or 10 or higher for families on either assessment tool. This represents approximately the top 10% – most vulnerable clients in our community. EVH clients will be prioritized for same-day shelter placement and/or immediate support into available crisis resources. Similarly, EVH clients should be assisted with gathering all necessary documents to become “doc-ready” for CAS-participating housing programs.

Just because a client does not score in the EVH range does not mean they cannot be referred into shelter or housing; it just means they are not “immediately prioritized.”

However, clients scoring near the EVH range have a better chance of being referred than those scoring toward the bottom.

There are multiple ways to update a client’s location, which one is used for shelter prioritization?
There are three ways to update a client’s current location. The location tab, the assessment tool, and the Current Living Situation assessment. The most recent record of any of these sources will be used to identify the client’s current location for purposes of shelter prioritization.
My client is considered an extremely vulnerable household (EVH) - what do I do now?

If you’re trying to navigate into crisis resources, contact 2-1-1 and let them know you just assessed an EVH and are trying to explore same-day resources for them. Otherwise, support the EVH by gathering necessary documentation to become “doc-ready.” Once “doc-ready” complete the Referral and Case Conferencing tool to update their status on the housing priority list.

How do I get my client “doc-ready?”

Click here to learn more.

How do I know if my client is eligible for shelter?

After completing the crisis assessment, you will have the option to view the client’s eligibility for each of the CAS-participating shelters. To determine their eligibility, check their respective scores for each shelter. If the score is 100, they are considered eligible, if the score is greater than 100, they are eligible and have shelter-specific prioritization.

How should I talk with my client about their assessment score?

We should never share the assessment score with the client. However, general messaging about what to expect and next steps is best practice. The Best Practice Guide also provide sample language and guidance on how to structure these conversations.

The Frequently Asked Questions were last updated October 21, 2024.

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