The AIDES initiative aims to test a collaborative model developed in England, the British Assessment Framework. This unifying model:

1. Helps to provide a space for dialogue with parents;

2. Allows parents and practitioners/organizations to share a common terminology and interpretation and refer to the same parametres in assessing the progress of children;

3. Enhances collaborative processes (fosters the exchange of information, facilitates referrals);

4. Ensures better planning and delivery of services.

In addition, AIDES aims to validate the use of the Core Assessment Record (CAR), adapted and translated into French with the acronym CABE. This integrative tool was developed in Britain and derived from the Assessment Framework. It encourages the participation of the child and the parents, and seeks their opinions concerning the child’s needs. In addition, it allows one to:

• draw a realistic, detailed portrait of the child’s needs according to seven dimensions (health, education, behavioural and emotional development, identity, family and social relations, self-presentation, and self-care skills) and the child’s age;

• take into account the ability of parents (or parental substitutes) to respond to the child’s needs (strengths and needs);

• evaluate the family and environmental factors likely to influence the responses to these needs.

The Core Assessment Record explores the relationship between the various factors and thus encourages an understanding of all aspects that have an impact on the dimensions of the child’s development and parental capacity. Furthermore, it encourages the sharing of information and the understanding of the child’s needs by the different actors. Finally, it allows one to pursue well-defined, specific intervention goals and to formulate them operationally.

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1 The AIDES initiative obtained permission to translate and adapt the Core Assessment Record from the Child Welfare League of Canada, which holds the Crown copyright.