Case Management

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services defines “Case Management” as: Planning and coordination of services to meet an individual’s identified health needs and assistance provided to the individual for engagement in such services to support the individual’s overall treatment and recovery.

Forward Health Update, December 2020, No. 2020-42.  Accessed May 5, 2021 from: https://www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/kw/pdf/2020-42.pdf.

Under DHS 75.02 (7):  “Case management” means an organized process for bringing services, agencies, resources and people together within a planned framework for linking, advocating for and monitoring the provision of appropriate educational, intervention, treatment, or support services to a client with alcohol or other drug abuse problems in a coordinated, efficient and effective manner.

According to SAMHSA:

Case Management and Substance Abuse Treatment

When implemented to its fullest, case management will enhance the scope of addictions treatment and the recovery continuum. A treatment professional utilizing case management will:

    • Provide the client a single point of contact for multiple health and social services systems.
    • Advocate for the client.
    • Be flexible, community-based, and client-oriented.
    • Assist the client with needs generally thought to be outside the realm of substance abuse treatment.
      U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Comprehensive Case Management for Substance Abuse Treatment, accessed May 8, 2021 from https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma15-4215.pdf

At First Step Community Recovery Center, upon admission each client is assigned a Case Manager who functions as a single point of contact and advocate for the client, and who coordinates the provision of various services for the client including services outside the realm of substance abuse such as transportation to medical and social services appointments, search for housing, employment search, and family re-unification.