Once you’re accepted into one of the resources on this site, the best thing that can happen to you is to be assigned a Case Manager. He or she will become your best friend at a time when you probably feel like you don’t have many friends. A case manager is a trained and paid professional who will assist you in accessing and coordinating a variety of services to meet your specific needs. They will give their time and talent to you at no charge but there’s one thing they’ll expect in return… commitment! Together with your wants and needs they will help you create a plan to get out of homeless. They’ll even get other people to help you. All they ask in return is your unwavering determination to achieve your plan.

The textbook definition of a case manager in social work often includes the following key components:

1. Assessment: Conducting thorough assessments of clients’ needs, strengths, and challenges to develop a comprehensive understanding of their situation.
2. Planning: Collaborating with clients to create individualized care plans or service plans that outline specific goals, objectives, and interventions tailored to address their unique circumstances.
3. Coordination: Facilitating and coordinating the delivery of various services and resources, such as medical care, housing, employment assistance, counseling, and other support services, to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to meeting clients’ needs.
4. Advocacy: Advocating on behalf of clients to ensure they receive the appropriate services and resources. This may involve contacting other professionals, agencies, and community resources.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly reviewing and reassessing your progress toward your goals, adjusting plans as necessary, and making sure that the services provided are meeting your needs.
6. Documentation: Maintaining accurate and detailed records of your interactions, assessments, plans, and the outcomes of interventions. This is important for accountability, communication, and continuity of care.
7. Empowerment: Empowering you by involving you in the decision-making process and promoting your independence and self-sufficiency.
8. Referrals: In case management, a referral is the process of linking a client with partner agencies to address various needs, such as physical, social, educational, vocational, legal, or mental health needs. These partner agencies can include government departments, community organizations, medical institutions, and schools. The referral process can involve several steps, from determining the service need to finalizing admission to the new service

Overall, your case manager plays a crucial role in helping you navigate complex systems, access appropriate services, and work towards positive outcomes in your life. The specific responsibilities and tasks may vary a little depending on the organization, but the core principles of assessment, planning, coordination, advocacy, monitoring, and empowerment are central to the role of a case manager.