Working With Clients With Dual Diagnosis: The Case of Joe Joe is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who came to the County Division of Social Services to apply for General Assistance (GA) benefits. The GA program provides cash assistance, Medicaid coverage, and housing for homeless single adults. Joe is in need of Medicaid benefits in order to remain active in his treatment program. Joe is receiving treatment at the Mentally Ill Chemical Abuser (MICA) partial hospitalization program at the local community mental health center for clients who are dually diagnosed. Joe has a dependence on marijuana, although he has stopped using it for approximately six months, and has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. He is being prescribed medication. Joe reports that he is unable to work due to mental illness, and without an income or health insurance, he is unable to obtain his medication. Joe reports that while he was enrolled as a student at the state university, he would sell marijuana to other college students. Eventually, he was arrested and convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) and served 3 years in prison. Joe has had no further arrests; however, he has not been able to secure permanent housing or employment since his release. Joe reports that this event has ruined his life. His lack of employment results from an inability to pass most background checks. If he discloses that he was arrested, Joe reports that he is never called for interviews. But when he once failed to disclose the information to the prospective employer, Joe was terminated for lying on his application. Joe believes that he has little hope for future employment. Joe has few natural supports in his life. He reports that following the incarceration, his family distanced itself from him and his girlfriend at the time broke up with him. He reports that his only supports are his local Narcotics Anonymous (NA) sponsor and his mental health counselor. Joe reports that his housing situation has been unstable and sporadic for the past 10 years. Joe’s mental health counselor from the MICA program has contacted me to advocate for Joe’s approval for benefits. I explained that under the current state regulations, Joe is ineligible for benefits due to his CDS distribution conviction. The only program options that I can offer him are food stamps and access to a homeless shelter outside of the county. The counselor explained that relocation would cause a disruption to Joe’s mental health treatment and would cause him to lose contact with his local NA sponsor. In response to the counselor’s concerns, I suggested that Joe contact the local faith-based organization for assistance. Although they do not house single males, they have an extensive network of volunteers, mentors, and donors who may financially support people in need. I referred Joe to a program that offers bonding t.

1. Working With Clients With Dual Diagnosis: The Case of Joe
Joe is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who came to the County
Division of Social Services to
apply for General Assistance (GA) benefits. The GA program
provides cash assistance, Medicaid
coverage, and housing for homeless single adults. Joe is in need
of Medicaid benefits in order to
remain active in his treatment program. Joe is receiving
treatment at the Mentally Ill Chemical
Abuser (MICA) partial hospitalization program at the local
community mental health center for
clients who are dually diagnosed.
Joe has a dependence on marijuana, although he has stopped
using it for approximately six
months, and has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
He is being prescribed
medication. Joe reports that he is unable to work due to mental
illness, and without an income or
health insurance, he is unable to obtain his medication. Joe
reports that while he was enrolled as

2. a student at the state university, he would sell marijuana to
other college students. Eventually, he
was arrested and convicted of possession with intent to
distribute a controlled dangerous
substance (CDS) and served 3 years in prison. Joe has had no
further arrests; however, he has not
been able to secure permanent housing or employment since his
release. Joe reports that this
event has ruined his life. His lack of employment results from
an inability to pass most
background checks. If he discloses that he was arrested, Joe
reports that he is never called for
interviews. But when he once failed to disclose the information
to the prospective employer, Joe
was terminated for lying on his application. Joe believes that he
has little hope for future
employment.
Joe has few natural supports in his life. He reports that
following the incarceration, his family
distanced itself from him and his girlfriend at the time broke up
with him. He reports that his
only supports are his local Narcotics Anonymous (NA) sponsor
and his mental health counselor.
Joe reports that his housing situation has been unstable and

3. sporadic for the past 10 years. Joe’s
mental health counselor from the MICA program has contacted
me to advocate for Joe’s
approval for benefits. I explained that under the current state
regulations, Joe is ineligible for
benefits due to his CDS distribution conviction. The only
program options that I can offer him
are food stamps and access to a homeless shelter outside of the
county. The counselor explained
that relocation would cause a disruption to Joe’s mental health
treatment and would cause him to
lose contact with his local NA sponsor. In response to the
counselor’s concerns, I suggested that
Joe contact the local faith-based organization for assistance.
Although they do not house single
males, they have an extensive network of volunteers, mentors,
and donors who may financially
support people in need. I referred Joe to a program that offers
bonding to people seeking
employment who have been previously incarcerated. Finally, I
suggested that the counselor
research Joe’s ability to remain in treatment at the hospital
despite his lack of Medicaid
coverage. The counselor agreed to assist Joe with these

4. suggestions.