Intensive child case management: Work roles and activities

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a project undertaken to explore the implementation of one rural state's intensive child case management program for families with children with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities. Interviews with 20 child case management staff were conducted for the purpose of describing perceived work roles and activities. Thematic and content analysis of staff interviews revealed differences in staff perceptions regarding the role of the case manager, the "ideal" work activities of the case manager, and the barriers to achieving the "ideal" work activities. The discussion focuses on social work practice and policy implications for the provision of intensive child case management programs, and provides recommendations for areas of further inquiry.

What research tells us about the intersecting streams of homelessness and foster care.

“…This individual, often called a case manager, engages, develops a relationship, and identifies goals, strengths, and challenges of the youth or family. The case manager understands the complex needs of families in these situations, and is an advocate for the family, child, or youth's needs (Werrbach, 1994). With a central person, the youth or family receives support and help with negotiating large bureaucratic systems such as public housing and health care, and there is less need to repeat one's history to each new helper or agency that enters the youths' or families' lives.…”