1. Strengths-Based Clinical Case Management: Moving Beyond Service Brokering to Care Collaboration

2. Objectives
Present overview & contrast different models of case management: broker, clinical, strengths based clinical
Identify roles of engagement & collaboration in clinical case management
Identify salient SW characteristics to promote
effective engagement & collaboration
Identify key components & the significance of strengths-based care collaboration for child welfare

3. Overview: Case Management vs. Clinical Case Management
Case management: Coordination, integration and allocation of individualized care within limited resources
Clinical case management: SW forms alliance with client to ensure that services received are congruent with client need
Thornicroft, G. (1991). The concept of case management for long-term mental illness. International Review of Psychiatry, 3,
Kanter (1989).

4. Models of Case Management
Broker Model
Clinical Case Manager Model
Strengths-Based Care Collaboration Model

5. Broker model Role of social worker: Assumptions of model:
Specific functions include assessment, planning, linking to services, monitoring and advocacy.
Serves as the link between the client and community resources
Provides very little direct service to client
Assumptions of model:
Needed services are available and client will utilize them voluntarily
While this traditional model of case management links clients to resources, it neglects the relational component of social work and assumes little advanced training. For a critical review of the broker case management model, see: Huxley, P. (1993). Case management and care management in community care. British Journal of Social Work, 23,

6. Clinical Case Manager Model
Role of Social Worker:
Relationship Focus:
Provide conversation and direct counseling regarding client’s concerns
Engage with client to ensure that interventions address problems as understood by the client
Help the client link to both formal resources (e.g. community service providers) and informal resources (e.g. family, friends).
Provide support and treatment over an extended period
Assumptions of model:
Collaboration with client, family and formal and informal service providers will increase the appropriateness of interventions and the likelihood that client will follow through with services
For a discussion of clinical case management, please see: Kanter, J. (1989). Clinical case management: Definition, principles, components. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 40(4),

7. Strengths-Based Care Collaboration Model
Model combines clinical model with recognized value of collaboration & strengths- based orientation
Role of Social Worker
Recognize and engage client strengths
Interventions focused on empowering client and family
Enhance client opportunities for growth, education and skill development
Assumptions of Model:
The relationship between the social worker and client is critical to growth
Community, family, and cross-agency partnerships are sources of valuable resources
For more information on the strengths model, consult: Mary, D., Rapp, C.A. & Carlson, L. (2001). The experts speak: The critical ingredients of strengths based case management. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 24(3),
For comparisons of the models, see: (1) Mueser, K.T., Bond, G.R., Drake, R.E. & Resnick, S.G. (1998). Models of community care for severe mental illness: A review of research on case management. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 24(1), 37-74; (2) Solomon, P. (1992). The efficacy of case management services for severely mentally disabled clients. Community Mental Health Journal. 28, ; (3) Walsh, J. & Holton, V. (2008). Case management. In K.M. Sowers and C.N. Dulmus (Eds.), Comprehensive Handbook of Social Work and Social Welfare, Vol. 3. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons; (4) Zigura, S.J. & Stuart, G.W. (2000). A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of mental health case management over 20 years. Psychiatric Services, 51(11),

8. Care Collaboration Model (CCM)
Key Components
Use of self and empathy
Focus on Agency Collaboration
Matching client’s felt need with agency resources

9. Care Collaboration Model cont’d
Relationship as context
Abuse or neglect occurs in the context of a relationship
To assess strengths & challenges in family, social worker must be aware of and use relationship skills like engagement & collaboration.

10. Care Collaboration Model cont’d
Social Worker Characteristics
Commitment to client
Aware of need for care continuity
Maintaining empathy, honesty, flexibility
Respect for confidentiality
Keeping a non-judgmental attitude

11. How this approach helps children and families
Relationship skills are essential to effective SW practice
Although child welfare practice limits time spent with clients, time is used to greatest benefit by SW with well-developed engagement & collaborative skills
Successful social worker-client alliance is associated with successful service outcomes, as client is more likely to complete services when trust is established (Howe, 1998).
Service approach based on an understanding of the client’s situation and tailored to the client’s needs and strengths is more likely to result in an improvement in psychological and social wellbeing ( Huxley, 1993).

12. How this approach helps children & families, cont.
Strengths-based care collaboration goes beyond service brokering and/or individual child and family meetings to support the child and family in multiple facets of life, including home, school and community.
A social worker alone will not accomplish this level of support, but results can be achieved through building relationships with clients, parents, family members, and service agencies, as well as with communities.

13. How this approach helps children & families, cont.
Promote an alliance with children and their families that foster positive relationships in their lives, by:
Listening to the child’s, parents’, and family members’ perceptions of the issues and problems
Listening to and working with family members and/or other caring adults
Partnering with community organizations and other agencies & advocating for the child and family as needed
Saint-Jacques, M., Drapeau, S., Lessard, G. & Beaudoin, A. (2006). Parent involvement practices in child protection: A matter of know-how and attitude. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 23(2),

14. Further Activities
This curriculum will be offered in a series of units
Activities will be developed to increase student capacity to engage with children, families, and others and to develop collaborative skills. These will likely include:
Suggested role plays
Group collaboration tasks
Scenarios with question sets
Vignettes