Whole Child Assessment (WCA)

The Whole Child Assessment (WCA) is a self-report tool designed to be an interview guide to support the history at well-child visits. It is a California state-approved Individual Health Education Behavioral Assessment (IHEBA) and one of the screening tools listed on the American Academy of Pediatrics screening tool finder. The WCA offers age-specific versions in English and Spanish for ages 0-20 years old. Each version incorporates questions about exposure to and risk of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), as well as other social determinants, safety, substance use, mental health, relationships, sleep, physical activity, nutrition, dental care, tuberculosis risk, and interval history. Use of the WCA during well-child visits facilitates prioritization of time in order to help identify and address factors most important to health outcomes.

For more information about the WCA, contact Dr. Ariane Marie-Mitchell, MD, PhD, MPH, [email protected].

Whole Child Assessment

• 0 – 6 Months (rev 1.23.24) -  English  |  Spanish
• 7 – 11 Months (rev 1.23.24) -   English  |  Spanish
• 12 – 23 Months (rev 1.23.24) -   English  |  Spanish
• 2 – 3 Years (rev 1.23.24) -   English  |  Spanish
• 4 – 5 Years (rev 1.23.24) -   English  |  Spanish
• 6 – 8 Years (rev 1.23.24) -   English  |  Spanish
• 9 - 11 Years (rev 1.23.24) -   English  |  Spanish
• 12 – 17 Years (rev 5.31.24) -   English  |  Spanish
• 18 - 20 Years (rev 11.22.19) -   English  |  Spanish

Whole Child Assessment - Supporting Documents

• A Pediatrician's Guide to Use of the WCA
• Example workflow diagrams to guide assessment of ACEs for age 0-11
• Example "ACES" information and resources to add to after visit summary
• Calculating a Child-ACE Score using the WCA

References

• Marie-Mitchell, A, Lee J, Siplon C, Chan F, Riesen S, Vercio S..  “Identifying Adverse Childhood Experiences Using the Whole Child Assessment.”  Global Pediatric Health 6: 1-9, 2019
• Marie-Mitchell, A. and R. Kostolansky. "A systematic review of trials to improve child outcomes associated with adverse childhood experiences" American Journal of Preventive Medicine 56(5): 756-764, 2019.
• Marie-Mitchell, A., H. Watkins, I. Copado and B. Distelberg. "Use of the Whole Child Assessment to identify children at risk of poor outcomes." Child Abuse and Neglect 104: 104489, 2020.
• Marie-Mitchell, A, Cole SW.  “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Transcriptional Response in School-Age Children.” Development and Psychopathology, 1-7, 2021.
• Marie-Mitchell, A. “Adverse Childhood Experiences: Can Government Policy Reduce Trauma .” Kevin MD, October 23, 2022
• Patel NS, Watkins H, Marie-Mitchell A. “Predictive Validity of the Whole Child Assessment in a Generally Healthy Pediatric Cohort.” Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 14: 1-7, 2023.