Hi Cataract, great question! Case manager is simply a professional title that various social service agencies began using to open the pool of hirable candidates who were not licensed social workers, and therefore could not be called social workers because of Title Act accountability. Case managers are also sometimes called paraprofessionals. I should note, many case managers do have master’s and/or licenses from different professional disciplines. There are all kinds of case managers who work in hospitals, mental health agencies, foster care agencies, shelters and other professional settings. Their responsibilities vary depending on the location, but mainly they work with a caseload of clients to connect them to resources, help them maintain benefits, and lead successful lives in the community. As a case manager I did everything from create hospital discharge plans, find housing, medication management, make referrals, go for walks and hang out with clients in the community to feel more socially comfortable, plus many other things. It was a very enriching job that taught me a lot. I am no longer a case manager. I am full-time student and research assistant at Temple University.
Thanks for the feedback, CatNight. Could you provide a link to your county’s program or where to find it’s resources so that we could all learn from that example?
Hi Darby, appreciate what you’ve added to the discussion. By treatment I mean things like psychotherapy, recreational therapy to increase community participation, supportive employment, etc. I believe in taking a client-centered, individualistic approach working with an individual’s self-determined goals. The prevention part is trickier, and I agree, some systems are negligent in that regard. I want to believe there are ways to work towards a more caring society and informed parenting/family-focused style that breaks cycles of abuse.
Thanks, Wayne! You ask a really important question that we all should be thinking about. I know I certainly don’t have the answer right now, but I believe it starts with an interdisciplinary approach of various professions and schools of thought coalescing to begin discussing best practices of prevention and treatment. By prevention I am referring mainly to larger, macro-level issues like trauma-informed care, in which I see you specialize.
To your other point, there are some really excellent paraprofessionals. I think people should always be questioning and seeking more information, especially in a field related to people’s health and well-being.
Hi Cataract, great question! Case manager is simply a professional title that various social service agencies began using to open the pool of hirable candidates who were not licensed social workers, and therefore could not be called social workers because of Title Act accountability. Case managers are also sometimes called paraprofessionals. I should note, many case managers do have master’s and/or licenses from different professional disciplines. There are all kinds of case managers who work in hospitals, mental health agencies, foster care agencies, shelters and other professional settings. Their responsibilities vary depending on the location, but mainly they work with a caseload of clients to connect them to resources, help them maintain benefits, and lead successful lives in the community. As a case manager I did everything from create hospital discharge plans, find housing, medication management, make referrals, go for walks and hang out with clients in the community to feel more socially comfortable, plus many other things. It was a very enriching job that taught me a lot. I am no longer a case manager. I am full-time student and research assistant at Temple University.
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Hi CatNight, I respect your request for privacy. You provided a nice overview of what the agency does, which is helpful. Thanks!
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Thanks for the feedback, CatNight. Could you provide a link to your county’s program or where to find it’s resources so that we could all learn from that example?
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Hi Darby, appreciate what you’ve added to the discussion. By treatment I mean things like psychotherapy, recreational therapy to increase community participation, supportive employment, etc. I believe in taking a client-centered, individualistic approach working with an individual’s self-determined goals. The prevention part is trickier, and I agree, some systems are negligent in that regard. I want to believe there are ways to work towards a more caring society and informed parenting/family-focused style that breaks cycles of abuse.
Report comment
Thanks, Wayne! You ask a really important question that we all should be thinking about. I know I certainly don’t have the answer right now, but I believe it starts with an interdisciplinary approach of various professions and schools of thought coalescing to begin discussing best practices of prevention and treatment. By prevention I am referring mainly to larger, macro-level issues like trauma-informed care, in which I see you specialize.
To your other point, there are some really excellent paraprofessionals. I think people should always be questioning and seeking more information, especially in a field related to people’s health and well-being.
Report comment