Effective July 1, 2011, the California Legislature and the Governor shifted responsibility for mental health services for students with disabilities from County Mental Health to Public Schools, repealing certain portions of AB3632. Mental health as a related service is identified as mental health services necessary for a student to benefit from their special education program.

Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS): The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool is an assessment strategy that is designed to be used for decision support and outcomes management. The CANS can be used as an active component of ERMHS planning. This version of the CANS is designed to focus on the educational needs of students related to their mental health. School psychologists employed by an LEA in Sonoma County have access to the CANS survey and are expected to be certified to administer the CANS and to maintain their certification annually. The CANS certification website is: http://www.canstraining.com/register