Family Assessment Clinic

Assessment

  • Telephone referral by Child Welfare, agency, or court worker to the FAC Coordinator
    1. Telephone (734) 998-9700 (Cassandra N. McMullen, FAC Coordinator).
    2. Cassandra N. McMullen takes initial information by phone.
  • The FAC Administrative Team (Dr. Kathleen Coulborn Faller, Mary Ortega, ACSW, Susan Smith, MSW, and Margaret Erickson, MSW) decides if it is an appropriate referral and what services are needed.
  • The coordinator provides the referring professional with a cost estimate and contract.
  • Once the contract is signed, the Administrative Team assigns staff to conduct interviews, conduct testing, collect collateral information, and provide other services.
  • The Administrative Team assigns Graduate Student Interns to work with individual staff.
  • Telephone intake
    1. The intake is conducted by an FAC Administrative Team member or Intern.
    2. The intake person uses a semi-structured intake form.
    3. The referring professional is asked to specify questions for the assessment to address.
  • Background material on the family is requested from the referring professional.
  • All social work staff and interns review background material.
  • The FAC coordinator sets appointments.
  • At the first appointment, adults sign release to send reports to child welfare worker and others. Children's caretakers complete Child Behavior Checklist, Child Sexual Behavior Inventory, or Trauma Symptom Checklist as indicated.
  • Information about interviews with children and adults
    1. Interviews are videotaped and audiotaped.
    2. Most adults are interviewed for about two hours; there may be follow-up contact.
    3. Children usually receive two interview sessions.
    4. Extended assessments of children (usually 6 sessions) may be conducted.
  • Psychological testing is conducted as indicated on adults and children.
    1. A typical inventory for adults includes an assessment of Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Minnesota Multi-Phasic Inventory (MMPI), Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Rorschach Inkblot Test (Exner Scoring), Early Memories Test, Draw-a-Person, and the Bender Gestalt.
    2. Testing takes approximately four hours.
  • Parent-child interaction and family interaction sessions are conducted if indicated.
  • Psychiatric, legal, psychological, medical, or substance abuse consultations are obtained as needed.
  • Medical exams may be scheduled at University of Michigan Health Systems.
  • Collateral contacts with professionals and nonprofessionals are conducted as needed.
  • Staff and interns write reports.
    1. One report is generated for each family member who has been evaluated.
    2. There are separate reports for psychological testing, medical examinations, and collateral contacts.
  • Consultation meeting
    1. After interviews, testing, and other data-gathering, assessments usually require a consultation meeting.
    2. The meeting lasts approximately 3 hours.
    3. All staff involved on case, relevant consultants, and community professionals, including the referring worker, attend.
  • A consultation meeting report, with answers to questions posed for the assessment and additional recommendations, is completed.
  • FAC can provide consultation on the case according to needs of worker on record.
  • Court testimony can be provided as requested.