The Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST) is a communimetric tool. It is designed to maximize communication about the needs and strengths of families. The purpose of the FAST is to support effective interventions when the focus of those efforts are on entire families rather than single individuals. The most common use of the FAST is in efforts to address the needs of families who are at risk of child welfare involvement. Items identified as a ‘0’ are often strengths that can be used in strength-based planning. Items rated a ‘1’ should be monitored and preventive efforts might be indicated. Items rated a ‘2’ or ‘3’ are actionable and should be addressed in the intervention plan. The FAST includes ratings of the Family Together, each Caregiver, and all children and youth. Interventions in the family system can be directed at that system or to address the individual needs of family members or dyadic relationships within the family. The framework of FAST is unlike the the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) and the Adult Needs and Strengths Assessment (ANSA).
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