Trying to get services you or for a loved one can be a challenging task. The process can be confusing for people who work in the field so I could only imagine how difficult it could be for people who are new to human services field. However, the benefits of having services in place far outweigh some of the challenges you may face with navigating the system. And the earlier you can get case management services in place, the chances of achieving positive outcomes increase.
Related Post: When Should I Get a Case Manager?
Also See: Mental Health Case Management vs. Intellectual Disabilities Case Management
Also See: Mental Health Case Management vs. Intellectual Disabilities Case Management
Who do I contact?
Contact your local Community Services Board (CSB) - Community Service Boards are typically the point of contact in many states. Schools and other agencies might also provide a referral to the CSB to initiate an intake.
Local human services
department- Your local Human Services Department or Social Services department
can also be a starting point of contact. Their primary role is to assist with
benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP (Formally known as Food Stamps), etc. It’s important
to have Medicaid benefits because they pay for case management as well as other
support services. It’s a good ideal to apply for these benefits before initiating
case management services. If you don’t have it at the time of the intake, the
intake clinician can assist with applying for benefits.
Schedule an Intake
After contacting the CSB or Department of Human Services to
schedule an intake
, an application for services may be mailed or emailed to be completed before
the intake. It’s important to fill out the information as thoroughly as
possible to make the intake move a little faster. A typical intake will take
1-2 hours on average. Some of the information may seem confusing but answer the
questions the best that you can. Any blank areas can be addressed at the
intake.
Gather the
appropriate documentation
Some of the information that will be required at the intake
includes:
Birth Certificate
Medicaid and other insurance cards
Photo Identification
*These items can also be provided prior to the intake date.
Determine if You Qualify
Psychological
Evaluation- A psychological evaluation can determine what type of case
management services you need or if you even qualify for services. Psychological
evaluations can be done in private practice settings or they can be provided by
the school for purposes of qualifying for services.
The psychological evaluation consists of a number of tests
as well as interviews and reviews of previous medical reports. An evaluation
resulting in an IQ score of 70 or below would qualify the person for
intellectual disability case management. This diagnosis must be obtained before
the age of 18 in most states. This is why getting the evaluation early is
important.
If the psychological evaluation results in a primary
diagnosis of mental health illness (Schizophrenia or Bi-Polar Disorder, etc.), then
mental health case management services might be more appropriate.
Getting Matched with
a Case Manager
The final step is getting matched with a case manager. There
could be a waiting period to get matched with a case manager. This all depends
on the availability of case managers due to turnover or high caseloads. The department
will try to match the client to the case manager that fits their individual preferences
as much as possible. This could include gender preferences and/or the case manager’s
experience in working with specific client needs.
