Case management training

1. CASE MANAGEMENT IN
THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CARE SETTING
Methods & Best
Practices

2. WHAT IS CASE
MANAGEMENT?Case management is the coordination of community-based
services by a professional or team to provide people the
quality mental health care that is customized accordingly to
an individual's setbacks or persistent challenges and aid
them to their recovery.
A Case Manager’s responsibilities include:
 Accomplishing patient care by assessing treatment needs; developing,
monitoring, and evaluating aspects of the treatment plan and progress;
 Ensuring patient/client needs, strengths, preferences, and goals are
assessed and addressed in regards to Legal, Vocational, Educational,
Financial, Health, Continuum of Care, and general Self-Care.
 Facilitating interdisciplinary approaches by working with other
members of the Clinical Department;

3. COMMON QUESTIONS
A Case Manager will collect information from the Patient in the Initial
Assessment. Common questions can include:
 Tell me about any recent job losses you may have experienced.
 Tell me about your work history and educational background. Are you looking to go back
to school?
 Do you have any current or pending legal matters?
 What is your living situation? Who lives in the home; who is working; who is in school;
 How would these individuals support you or be barrier to your participation in activities?
 How old are the individuals in your home, and what is your relationship with them?
 Who is not in the home, but who is involved with the family, and what resources do they
offer?
 What income is available to you?
 Are there personal resources such as transportation, child care that you can use?
 Tell me about any health problems you or members of your family may be experiencing.
Are they affecting the family functioning (physical, mental, intellectual functioning)?
 Are alcohol & drug (A&D) issues affecting the family? If yes, how are they affecting the
family?
 Are there concerns about safety for any member of the family? Do you have any safety

4. KEY RESOURCES
Staffing: Consulting with key people who are directly involved in
the patient’s treatment plan or discharge planning. This can
include family, significant others, and community resources.
Community Outreach: Identifying what resources are available to
the patient/client. Is access to these sources reasonable?
Remember to have the patient
Development of their Discharge Plan: Developing the plan
mutually with the identified key people. Determine long and
short term goals and objectives, and prioritize step by step
activities that will make achieving the goal more realistic.
* Remember that a Release of Information is necessary to speak
to anyone about a patient’s case.

5. FOCAL POINTS
Work Status: Identify the barriers to employment. Is the patient…
 Ready to Work?
 Almost Ready to Work?
 Already Working?
 Does the patient have access to Child Care?
Family Issues/Issues with the Home Environment: What are the issues that need to be
addressed?
 Are there domestic violence issues, or is there a family member who has A&D issues?
 Are there an issue with access to safe or affordable housing?
Health Issues?
 Are there medical, developmental, or intellectual issues affecting the patient’s ability
to achieve the goal of Self-Care?
Educational/Vocational:
 Does the patient want to begin or continue their education? Does the patient’s
community have access to colleges or vocational schools? Does the patient have
access to Scholarships or can they obtain Federal student loans?
Legal: Identify what the situation is, and what can the patient do to move through their
legal issues. Are there resources the patient has access to assist them?

6. DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN
Establishing Goals & Objectives that are reasonable, and in conjunction with the needs, strengths, goals, and preferences of the patient.
Identify steps for securing a safe, stable living situation
Include attending the health issues/referrals to Health Services
Identification of future goals including additional education and employment
Include Life Skills training
Include understanding the importance of assuming responsibility for personal choices
Does the patient understand short and long-term consequences of safe, risky, and harmful behaviors?
Is the patient equipped with communication strategies for avoiding potentially harmful situations; i.e., refusal skills and resistance to peer pressure?
Include information and access to community agencies that advocate for healthy individuals and families.