Case management in mental health: a social work domain?

Abstract

CASE MANAGEMENT is recom mended with increasing fre quency as an approach to caring for the multiple needs of disabled per sons, particularly in the context of deinstitutionalization. The prin ciple underlying this approach is that one worker—the case manager— will link the client to the complex service delivery system and be re sponsible for ensuring that the client receives appropriate services in a timely fashion. Despite its growing popularity, case manage ment is still in the early stages of development as a practice model. A major problem is its lack of opera tional clarity. Its functions have been interpreted in disparate ways, mak ing case management a paradoxical assortment of activities requiring substantial commitment from all or