What is Case Management?
Case Management is the process of assessing,
planning, coordinating, and monitoring services to achieve specific family
goals.
The Case Manager looks at each
component of the family life in relation to the child with special mental
health needs: family dynamics and support system, financial, housing,
transportation, medical, therapeutic, legal, educational, social and
recreational.
A Case Manager then helps you define
your family’s goals in each component; then the Case Manager works together
with you to achieve them, by helping you connect with resources, by advocating
for you, and by creating community and school teams to address the child’s
needs.
What will the Case Manager do for me
and my child?
- Develop a partnership with the
parent/family, the school, and other agencies/service providers
- Use a strengths-based approach to
build on the child’s assets rather than trying to “fix” something that is
“wrong” with the child
- Accompany child (and provide
transportation, if it is a barrier) to doctor and therapist appointments, and
other important meetings
- Advocate for the family to get
services they need (at IEP meetings, with school districts, in front of the clinical
committee, etc.)
- Get the child involved in meaningful
activities that will improve his/her social interaction and relationships with
peers
- Teach and build the older child’s skills
in caring for his/her own needs to help him/her gain independence (budgeting
and financial literacy, finding an apartment, cooking meals, etc.)
- Provide education and support to
parents/guardians to strengthen relationships within the family
- Provide information to the family
about community resources/services, linking them to resources, and helping them
overcome barriers
- Assist family with accessing crisis
intervention and stabilization services when appropriate
- Assist older children with transition
planning (next steps after graduating high school, leaving foster care or
residential placement, etc.)
How does my child become involved with
case management?
1.
Students with high needs are
referred by Excel
Academy staff members
2.
The case manager looks over the
referrals and prioritizes needs
3.
Case manager identifies the
highest-needs referrals, then makes phone calls to those parents/guardians to explain
case management services and get permission to do an assessment
4.
Case manager completes assessment
at the child’s home, school, or wherever is most convenient for the family
5.
If case management services are
indicated, the case manager will meet with parent/guardian to go over the
consent for treatment, develop Individual Service Plan (ISP), and schedule the first
meeting with the child
6.
The case manager will meet with
child in the home or community approximately once per week, at the family’s
convenience, to address the child’s needs and work toward the family’s goals
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