Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN)

Description: The Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) is important tool used to identify the needs of clients receiving mental health and addictions services in Ontario. OCAN gives clients and the mental health professionals supporting them, a tool to appropriately track and monitor an individual’s recovery journey. The tool has two components: a consumer-self assessment section and a staff assessment portion. The self-assessment asks clients to identify various needs in areas of their life including accommodation, childcare, transportation, physical health, culture, spirituality, food security, and hopes for the future. The staff-assessment is completed with the client and includes a summary of actions and referrals to address unmet needs that the client chooses to focus on during their recovery planning. Re-assessments are then completed every six months to determine if there has been a change or positive progress in the client’s unmet needs.

Access: ICES, CAMH