Case managers advocate for the needs and goals of their clients. They help people with disabilities to identify resources within the human services and healthcare systems, and offer practical support. Case managers can contact an agency’s representative, locate required documents, organize personal and medical information, investigate insurance coverage, complete paperwork, and accompany a client.

Case managers who are certified in disability case management are college graduates or licensed professionals who have complete specialized training. In addition to disability, areas of specialization for case managers include gerontology, nursing, social work, and psychology. Clients include people with acute and chronic medical illness, addiction, the frail and elderly, vulnerable children, people with severe and persistent mental illness, and immigrants/refugees.The traditional role for care managers has expanded to workplace issues of occupational safety , risk management,disability accommodations, and benefits administration.

Case managers often respond to two immediate concerns: 1. provision of home care services 2. coordination of home and professional care. Following a period of assessment, a case manager's written plan identifies private and public resources, including federal and state entitlements. Short-term and long-term goals are set, and a monitoring process is suggested. If a client’s needs fall outside of the boundaries of case management, a case manager's plan will suggest referrals. For example, a case manager can suggest referral to an elder care attorney, an occupational therapist, or a substance abuse program. Case managers can be a unique source of help when concerned family members live elsewhere or disagree about their relative's care.

Case managers who work with clients base their work upon a personal relationship. This relationship includes reciprocal communication, an assessment of a client's strengths as well as needs, familiarity with the client's culture, and an individualized plan. When appropriate, case managers can act as coaches for family members who serve as caretakers. As part of a standard monitoring process, case managers can provide ongoing contact, re-assessment and feedback. Case managers,also called Care Managers, make critical connections to resources, build relationships, and facilitate the cost-effective delivery of services.

 
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