From Assessment to Action: How PlanStreet and the TCOM FAST Tool Improve Family Outcomes in Human Services

In an era when outcomes matter more than ever, human services agencies are seeking tools that assess needs and empower real transformation. The Functional Assessment Screening Tool (FAST) developed by the Praed Foundation as part of the broader TCOM (Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management) framework has emerged as a powerful solution for evaluating family functioning in a way that's both strengths-based and actionable.

FAST has been proven to pinpoint problem behaviors, with studies showing a 53.3% to 84.5% item agreement between raters. However, even the most well-designed tool is only as effective as the system used to implement it.

That's why organizations across the country are turning to PlanStreet, a modern, cloud-based case management software that operationalizes tools like FAST into everyday workflows. By embedding FAST into the lifecycle of service delivery, PlanStreet bridges the gap between insight and intervention, enabling better coordination, stronger engagement, and improved long-term outcomes in child welfare, behavioral health, wraparound programs, and more.

Understanding the FAST Tool: What Makes It Different?

Some family questionnaires focus simply on risk or pathology, such as the ABC model, which can be helpful in a specific circumstance (such as trying to understand why a child made the decision they did). However, FAST operates as a decision-support framework grounded in the philosophy that people are more than their problems.

The FAST tool provides a balanced perspective that accounts for both challenges and capacities. It allows service providers to evaluate the family as a whole, using clearly defined domains that include:

• Parenting and caregiving capacities
• Family routines, resilience, and rituals
• Emotional and physical safety
• Cultural context and identity
• Social support and community connectedness
• Basic needs such as housing, employment, and healthcare

This balanced approach helps caseworkers and clinicians focus not only on mitigating harm but also on building strengths and promoting healing.

Who Uses the FAST Tool?

Many different government and nonprofit organizations use the FAST tool to better create service plans, factoring in culture, development, and the family as a whole.

The tool is most commonly used in:

• Child welfare and child protection systems
• Juvenile justice prevention and diversion programs
• Family reunification and preservation services
• School-linked behavioral health services
• Intensive wraparound case management

Importantly, FAST is built on the same core values that drive all TCOM tools: transparency, collaboration, individualization, and transformation. It reflects a belief that data should serve people, not the other way around.

To learn more about the principles behind FAST, visit the Praed Foundation's official tool page.

FAST and the Family First Act: Supporting Prevention-Focused Care

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) has transformed the child welfare landscape by emphasizing prevention over placement. As agencies pivot toward family preservation and upstream interventions, FAST offers a framework that aligns perfectly with FFPSA's core goals.

By capturing both risk indicators and protective factors, FAST enables:

• Early identification of family needs before crises escalate
• Strength-based service planning that engages caregivers
• Ongoing progress monitoring that demonstrates effectiveness

PlanStreet complements this effort by embedding FAST into case workflows and offering real-time reporting that supports documentation for FFPSA compliance (like California's High-Fidelity Wraparound Model) and grant performance.

Together, FAST and PlanStreet help agencies meet the moment, providing the tools needed to keep families together and safe.

Why Agencies Need FAST Now More Than Ever

Across the United States, family-serving systems are shifting from compliance-focused models to outcomes-oriented care. Funding agencies, managed care organizations, and federal partners are all calling for greater accountability, stronger evidence, and a commitment to family voice and choice.

FAST supports this transformation by:

• Creating a shared language for teams from different sectors
• Ensuring equitable service planning based on structured observations
• Reducing unnecessary placements through early identification of need
• Promoting reunification and stabilization by tracking functional change
• Informing system-level improvements by aggregating domain-level data

States like Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, and Nevada have adopted FAST at scale, integrating it into family support services and child welfare innovation plans.

For example, the Illinois State Board of Education has implemented the FAST tool as a part of the Special Education Behavioral Assessment Training Project. The project focuses on addressing "culturally responsive, evidence-based behavior interventions for students across all grade levels."

Common Challenges in FAST Implementation

Without the right data systems, many organizations still struggle to turn FAST assessments into action. Despite its thoughtful design, FAST is often undermined by operational barriers. These include:

• Manual data entry via paper or static forms
• Siloed recordkeeping systems that prevent cross-agency coordination
• Unstructured data that makes it hard to identify trends
• Lack of fidelity oversight, leading to inconsistent application
• Difficulty linking assessment data to services and results

When frontline workers must manage disconnected tools, the integrity of the FAST process breaks down. Worse, families may feel like they're just checking boxes rather than participating in a truly responsive, strengths-based process.

PlanStreet was designed specifically to overcome these barriers.

How PlanStreet Enhances the FAST Tool Workflow

PlanStreet's impact management platform is both highly configurable and intuitive, giving human service agencies the ability to embed FAST directly into the client lifecycle. It empowers frontline staff, program administrators, and families to stay aligned from first contact to discharge.

1. Configurable FAST Assessment Modules

Agencies can create FAST-specific templates with user-friendly formats and customizable fields, which allow for:

• Consistent administration across teams and programs
• Accurate digital scoring in real time
• Built-in validation to ensure data quality

The interface is designed for frontline usability, with dropdowns, radio buttons (for single-choice options), and conditional logic that mimic FAST's natural flow.

2. Real-Time Visualizations and Performance Dashboards

PlanStreet transforms FAST from a static tool into a dynamic source of intelligence. Dashboards let users see:

• Change in family functioning across time
• Trends by domain, region, or demographic
• Worker-level completion rates
• Correlations between assessment domains and case outcomes

This is especially useful for performance-based grants, contracting, and CQI (Continuous Quality Improvement) initiatives.

3. Seamless Integration Between Assessment and Planning

What sets PlanStreet apart is its ability to link FAST directly to referrals, case goals, and action steps. For example:

• A high score in "Safety Concerns" can prompt a mandatory safety plan
• Strengths in "Family Traditions" can be incorporated into protective factor strategies
• Identified needs can populate service referrals, like parenting support or housing navigation

With PlanStreet, FAST drives the engine behind each family's individualized support plan.

4. Mobile and Offline Functionality

Caseworkers often conduct FAST assessments in the field during home visits, school meetings, or community settings. PlanStreet's mobile-friendly system ensures that they can complete FAST securely from a phone or tablet, even when offline.

This flexibility is essential for rural areas, transitional housing sites, and families without consistent internet access.

5. Built-In Fidelity and Documentation Oversight

PlanStreet helps ensure that FAST is implemented with fidelity by offering:

• Alerts for missed or overdue assessments
• Version control for longitudinal comparison
• Audit logs for external reviewers
• Role-based permissions for supervisors and quality teams

This means agencies can prove both compliance and impact, strengthening their relationships with funders and regulatory bodies.

Implementation Roadmap: From Planning to Practice

Adopting FAST with PlanStreet doesn't require a complex overhaul. Most organizations can implement the tool in a phased, supported process designed to build confidence and maximize impact.

Here's what that typically looks like:

1. Discovery
   Align FAST implementation goals with your agency's existing programs, funding models, and population needs.
2. Configuration
   PlanStreet's team helps you build FAST templates, fields, and automated logic to match your agency's version of the tool.
3. Training
   Equip your staff through custom training—on both FAST scoring and system navigation—either onsite or virtually.
4. Pilot Testing
   Launch in a single program or site, gathering feedback and refining workflows before scaling.
5. Full Implementation
   Expand agency-wide with fidelity alerts, supervisory dashboards, and seamless data collection for audits and reporting.

PlanStreet is with you every step of the way (from early pilots to full rollout), making sure the process is smooth, your team is on board, and the results speak for themselves.

Illustrative Case Example: Improving Outcomes with FAST and PlanStreet

Imagine a family support organization in Oregon that transitions to using FAST with PlanStreet after receiving a state contract for high-needs child welfare cases.

Pre-transition challenges:

• Assessments were tracked in Excel.
• Staff needed to duplicate data entry across two systems.
• Trends in family progress were difficult to visualize.
• Referrals weren't consistently tied to FAST domains.

After implementing PlanStreet:

• FAST is digitized and embedded into the core case record.
• Each domain triggers automatic goal suggestions.
• Staff complete assessments in real time during visits.
• Supervisors run monthly reports to guide team learning.

This example shows how pairing FAST with the right case management system streamlines the process while creating more fair, engaging, and empowering experiences for both families and staff.

A Family-First Future for Human Services

Human service providers are under increasing pressure to do more with less. But with the right tools, they can do more for families, with families, and because of families.

When paired with PlanStreet, the FAST tool becomes a compass, guiding teams toward measurable, meaningful change. Combined, they improve:

• Family Engagement: Culturally informed, strengths-focused, and collaborative planning
• Data Use: Real-time tracking, goal alignment, and trend analysis
• Staff Efficiency: One unified system means no double entry and mobile-friendly access in the field
• Accountability: Dashboards, fidelity monitoring, and grant-ready reporting
• Outcomes: Clearer paths to safety, stability, and long-term self-sufficiency

Ready to Put FAST Into Action?

If your organization is looking to improve the way you assess family functioning, PlanStreet can help you build a FAST-informed workflow that leads to better outcomes, stronger engagement, and lasting impact. We encourage you to learn more about the FAST tool and join the TCOM learning community today.

Let's transform how families are supported with one domain, insight, and connection at a time.