The Validity of the Shortform Assessment for Children (SAC)

Abstract

This study tests the validity of the Shortform Assessment for Children (SAC), a one-page, 48-item measure of a child's overall mental health. Designed as a rapid assessment instrument for child welfare and juvenile justice systems, the SAC measures the broadband constructs of internalizing and externalizing problems using either parents or teachers as respondents. Method: The convergent, divergent, and criterion validity of the SAC (completed by both parents and teachers) was assessed with data gathered on 188 children in two urban child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Results: The validity of the SAC was supported for both parent and teacher respondents. Conclusions: The SAC's brevity, validity, and utility (completed by a teacher or parent) provide an efficient and effective assessment tool for child welfare and juvenile justice systems.