What does "case management" refer to in social work?

Case management in social work specifically refers to a structured process that involves assessing the needs of clients, planning appropriate services to meet those needs, and coordinating the delivery of those services. This process is essential in ensuring that clients receive a holistic approach to care, addressing various aspects of their lives, such as health, mental health, and social services.

The core of case management involves actively working with clients to evaluate their situations, identifying necessary resources, and facilitating access to those resources. This approach not only helps in connecting clients to services but also ensures that the providers work together to optimize the support offered. The emphasis on coordination makes case management particularly valuable in social work, where multiple systems and services are often involved in a client’s care.

In contrast, other options do not accurately capture the breadth of case management. While direct therapy methods, such as counseling, are important in social work, they do not encompass the broader responsibilities found in case management. Similarly, while there may be brief interventions in some cases, case management is not limited to short-term services; it is often a continuous process requiring ongoing support. Lastly, documentation is a critical component of case management but is not synonymous with it. Documentation serves the purpose of record-keeping, while case management focuses on