California Foster Forum Healthy Lifestyles Assessment Platform

California Foster Forum

Healthy Lifestyles Assessment Platform

From Crisis to Thriving

Built on Van Buren's Theory of Cognitive Learning and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Platform Overview

What It Is

A comprehensive multi-domain assessment tool designed to evaluate individual and family well-being across customizable critical life areas, enabling evidence-based tracking of progress from crisis to thriving.

Evidence Base

Built on Van Buren's Theory of Cognitive Learning and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, providing a scientifically-grounded framework for understanding developmental progress and human potential.

Rating Scale

Five status levels measuring progression:

Thriving → Stable → Safe → At-Risk → In-Crisis

Seven Areas Crisis Examples

Employment
Child Education
Adult Education
Health & Wellness
Childcare
Community Participation
Nutrition

Scoring Approach

For each domain, review criteria across four indicators and select applicable items. Then assign a score from 1–4 based on the number of criteria met. Aggregate scores across all domains to track overall progress and identify priority areas for intervention.

How to Use the Assessment

Follow these five steps to complete a comprehensive assessment and track progress over time:

Review Each Assessment Category

Carefully read through each domain table and review the criteria listed in each status row (Thriving, Stable, Safe, At-Risk, In-Crisis). Understand what each indicator measures before making selections.

Mark Applicable Criteria

Use the radio buttons in each cell to mark criteria that apply to the current situation. Select one indicator per column that best matches the individual or family's circumstances.

Select the Total Score

In the rightmost Score column, choose a score from 4 (all criteria met) to 1 (one criterion met) based on how many indicators apply in that status row.

Repeat Across All Seven Domains

Complete the assessment process for all domains: Employment, Child Education, Adult Education, Health & Wellness, Childcare, Community Participation, and Nutrition.

Save Progress and Generate Reports

Save your assessment results regularly and generate reports to track improvement over time. Higher scores indicate better outcomes, with Thriving representing optimal status and In-Crisis requiring immediate attention.

The 5 Status Levels

Each assessment domain uses a five-level scale to measure progression from crisis to thriving:

Safe

Basic needs met with some vulnerabilities. Adequate functioning but with gaps. Moderate risk; may need supplemental support.

Color Legend

Green (Thriving/Stable) - Optimal to Good

Yellow (Safe) - Adequate with Vulnerabilities

Red (At-Risk/In-Crisis) - High Risk to Critical

Employment Scale and Indicators

Status	Indicator 1	Indicator 2	Indicator 3	Indicator 4	Score
Thriving					4
Stable					3
Safe					2
At-Risk					1
In-Crisis					0

Child Education Scale and Indicators

Status	Indicator 1	Indicator 2	Indicator 3	Indicator 4	Score
Thriving					4
Stable					3
Safe					2
At-Risk					1
In-Crisis					0

Adult Education Scale and Indicators

Status	Indicator 1	Indicator 2	Indicator 3	Indicator 4	Score
Thriving					4
Stable					3
Safe					2
At-Risk					1
In-Crisis					0

Health & Wellness Scale and Indicators

Status	Indicator 1	Indicator 2	Indicator 3	Indicator 4	Score
Thriving					4
Stable					3
Safe					2
At-Risk					1
In-Crisis					0

Childcare Scale and Indicators

Status	Indicator 1	Indicator 2	Indicator 3	Indicator 4	Score
Thriving					4
Stable					3
Safe					2
At-Risk					1
In-Crisis					0

Community Participation Scale and Indicators

Status	Indicator 1	Indicator 2	Indicator 3	Indicator 4	Score
Thriving					4
Stable					3
Safe					2
At-Risk					1
In-Crisis					0

Nutrition Scale and Indicators

Status	Indicator 1	Indicator 2	Indicator 3	Indicator 4	Score
Thriving					4
Stable					3
Safe					2
At-Risk					1
In-Crisis					0