Click on any question to see the answer:

1. Is the ACLSA free?

The ACLSA is free to use as often as you like.

2. Do I need permisison to use the ACLSA?

No permission is needed to use the ACLSA or any of the tools at the Web site.

3. How many questions are there?

4. How long does it take to finish the ACLSA?

The ACLSA full-length assessments (levels I, II, III and IV) can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes to finish. The ACLSA short assessment takes about 5 minutes to finish.

5. How is the ACLSA short assessment different from the other assessments?

The ACLSA short assessment has only 20 questions and provides a brief summary or "snapshot" of life skills. It is often used for research or short-term evaluation. The full-length ACLSA provides an overview of life skills and is used for goal setting, program planning and for measuring progress. We recommend using the "full length" assessments if at all possible.

6. How often should the ACLSA be taken?

Youth can be assessed as often as appropriate to the situation. At a minimum, youths should be assessed around age 16 and again a year later to determine their progress

7. What is the Organization ID and do I need to use one?

On the Login Information page that comes before each assessment, you'll be asked to enter an Organization ID. If you are affiliated with an organization or agency of any type, and want to get ACLSA aggregate data reports, you must use an Organization ID.

Organization IDs can consist of alpha and/or numeric characters only. Special characters and spaces are not allowed. Organization IDs are not case sensitive. A minimum of seven characters and a maximum of 25 characters must be used.

You do not need permission from Casey Family Programs to create an Organization ID and there's no need to inform us about it. The Organization ID is optional. Click on the "Group Data Reports" tab above for more information concerning ACLSA Organization IDs.

Casey Family Programs Participants: Please use the Organization ID that was assigned to your Casey Division or Casey affiliate.

8. What is the Youth ID and do I need to use one?

The Login Information page also asks you for a Youth ID. The Youth ID identifies the person taking the assessment and will appear at the top of the ACLSA Score Report. It is strongly recommended that you create and use a Youth ID, but it is not mandatory.

A maximum of 50 characters can be used and they must be alpha and/or numeric. Special characters are not allowed. Youth IDs are not case sensitive.

To avoid duplicating another person's Youth ID, create a Youth ID that is unique. We recommend that the Youth ID not be the youth's full name.

The Youth ID should be used each time an assessment is completed by or for this youth. If a Youth ID is not entered, you will still be able to take the assessment and receive a Score Report. Caregivers (social workers, foster parents, case managers, etc.) should use the same Youth ID as the youth. For more information on the Youth ID, click on the top help button on the Login Information page.

9. Do I need to enter an e-mail address on the Login Information page?

An e-mail address is not required to take the assessment or to receive a Score Report. Shortly after the ACLSA is completed, the Score Report will "pop up" on your computer screen. We recommend that you save the scored report on your computer. If you want your Score Report e-mailed to up to three e-mail addresses, enter those addresses at the bottom of the Login Information page.

After completing the assessment, an e-mail with the Score Report attached is sent to the e-mail address(es) that were entered.

10. What is the ACLSA Score Report?

The Score Report contains the assessment scores, a brief description of how the scores are calculated, and a summary of the responses. Click here for more information

11. How and when do I get my ACLSA Score Report?

Once you click on the "I'm Finished" button at the end of the assessment, it is scored electronically and the Score Report will "pop up" on your screen. It should take no more than a minute (likely much sooner) for the Score Report to appear on your screen. We recommend that you save the scored report on your computer.

If on the Login Information page you entered an e-mail address(es) to receive a copy of the Score Report, the Score Report is e-mailed immediately after clicking on the "I'm Finished" button. The Score Report is sent as an e-mail attachment.

12. If I lose my Score Report, can I get a copy from Casey Family Programs?

Yes, copies of the Score Report can be sent to you via e-mail. E-mail us at ACLSA@casey.org and include the following information:

13. Why are the age ranges no longer listed next to the assessments on the "Choose an Assessment" Page?

The age ranges were removed because the assessments are developmentally based. Therefore, a youth age 13 who may be at a 16 year-old developmental level, should take the ACLSA III, and not an ACLSA II. Click on the "Help" button on the "Choose an Assessment" page for more information.

14. Can a youth and caregiver complete the ACLSA together at the same sitting?

Very useful information is obtained when the assessments are completed independently, that is, where the youth and caregiver complete their assessments without discussing their responses with each other.

However, the service provider/caregiver may choose to complete an ACLSA by discussing the questions with the youth. For example, an organization may choose to do this if the ACLSA is used as part of an intake process and knowledge of the youth is limited.

For youth with reading difficulties, it is often helpful to have a caregiver present when the youth is taking the ACLSA.

15. How do I get the Youth and Caregiver responses and scores to appear in the same Score Report?

If you want youth and caregiver(s)scores on the same report (a Matching Report), the youth and caregiver(s) must use the same Youth ID and enter the same e-mail address in the "Matching E-mail Address" section on the Login Information page. The matching of scores will appear when two or more of the assessments have been completed, and if completed within 42 days of each other.

A youth and up to three caregivers (social workers, case managers, foster parents, etc.) can take an ACLSA concerning the youth and have their scores on the same Report.

Having a Youth and a Caregiver (social worker, case manager, foster parent, etc.) complete an ACLSA is a great way to promote a conversation between the Youth and Caregiver about the Youth's life skills. And having the Youth and Caregiver scores on the same Score Report (a Matching Report) makes it easier to have that conversation.

For more information click on the middle "Help" button at the Login Information page.

16. If I complete a paper version of the ACLSA that I printed from this Web site, can I get it scored?

Yes. After completing a paper version of the ACLSA you can enter the responses into the online ACLSA and receive a Score Report via e-mail as described in FAQ #11 above.

If you don't plan on entering the responses online, you can request hand scoring instructions by e-mailing us at ACLSA@casey.org

17. How can I use the ACLSA Score Report?

The scores and responses in the Report reflect a youth's strengths as well as areas for growth. This information can be very useful in goal planning and in starting discussions about life skills strengths and directions.

The Life Skills Guidebook is available for free and can be used with the Score Report to create a customized life skills teaching plan. See FAQ #22 for more about the Life Skills Guidebook.

Ready, Set, Fly! is also available for free at this Web site (click on the Resources tab at top of this page). It offers creative life skills activities to help youth reach their life skills goals and covers the same domains as the ACLSA.

18. How do I get additional copies of a Score Report?

The Score Report can be printed and copied for your records. You can also save an electronic copy of the Report on the hard drive of your computer.

19. Can I get research reports (aggregate data) for our organization?

Yes. By popular demand, we created the ability to get ACLSA aggregate reports and raw data via the Web site. The aggregate reports and raw data are based on the "Organization ID" used on the ACLSA "Login Information" page.

Click on the "Group Data Reports" tab at the top right of this page for more information.

20. What is Casey Family Programs doing with the ACLSA data?

ACLSA data are held in a secure database. Casey periodically reviews aggregate data for quality. The individual scores are kept confidential.

21. Is there a companion life skills curriculum?

Yes. It is called the Life Skills Guidebook (LSG). The Guidebook outlines important life skills and identifies activities and exercises that can be used to teach youth. It is designed to help both practitioners and caregivers develop a customized life skills teaching plan. The domains covered in the Guidebook match those in the ACLSA.

For more information about the LSG, and to access a free pdf version Click here.

22. Why were the core curriculum resources that accompany the Life Skills Guidebook chosen from among the many available?

The core curriculum resources were chosen as a result of extensive feedback from independent living practitioners, foster care alumni and youth welfare professionals. These resources are relatively inexpensive, cover the multiple domains in the ACLSA and the LSG, and are thought to be among the best resources in the field.

Note that one of these resources (Ready, Set, Fly!) is available for free at this Web site by clicking on the Resources tab at the top of this page.

23. What about an ACLSA for those older than age 18?

The ACLSA level IV is appropriate for ages 16 and up.

24. How can I contact Casey Family Programs if I have questions about the Web site that are not answered here?

E-mail us at ACLSA@casey.org

25. How do I use the Additional Questions section at the end of the ACLSA?

The Additional Questions section allows questions to be asked that are not on the ACLSA. It is used only to record responses to the questions that the agency or caregiver provides. More specifically, a "paper & pencil" version of the additional questions with possible response options from A-E must be given to the respondent and then he/she can enter the answer accordingly on-line.

Users are not able to add/insert program-specific questions to the online ACLSA. Note that these additional questions are not scored. Up to 20 additional questions can be asked.

26. How secure are the ACLSA assessments?

The ACLSA assessments are secured using SSL encryption technology. Click here to read more about this technology.