Professional Case Management Services
The goal of Professional Case Management is to provide a personalized kind of case management service, primarily within the context of Court Supportive Services. If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, we can help both you and your attorney come up with a treatment plan that satisfies both you and the Court. We will work in cooperation with your attorney, giving your legal counsel the primary responsibility of using our recommendations or choosing a different plan. Our expertise comes with many years experience of working with persons with chronic, persistent mental illness. We also have many years of experience working within the judicial system, helping hundreds of clients to avoid incarceration simply by their acceptance of our recommendations for an alternative incarceration treatment plan. We are knowledgeable of treatment options that meet both the satisfaction of the Court but also meet the needs of your individual situation and circumstances.
Treatment Compliance is usually the key to a successful jail diversion. This means that when you do exactly as you are expected to do by the Court, things usually work out well. Poor treatment compliance will obviously produce a negative result.
Navigating through the Court System
There
are many players within the judicial system. There are judges, defense
attorneys, state's attorneys, also called prosecutors, bail commissioners,
family relations staff and many others that are behind the scenes. Our
role will be to help you and your case in the best way that we know how
by using our knowledge of the Court system and our relationships with
Court personnel to promote a positive outcome for you, both short-term
and long-term. There may be a significant period of time involved before
you will have a final disposition in your case. Your attorney is responsible
for providing you with the best legal counsel possible. It will be important
for you to listen to your attorney. If you do not understand something,
it is always best to ask questions until you do understand. As your
case progresses, we will help you navigate through the Court System by
using our expertise to help come up with a treatment plan option that
not only satisfies the Court but reflects a plan that is realistic and
manageable for you. We will probably need to meet outside of the Courthouse
as well, so that we can develop a good working relationship that will
make things easier for everyone, especially for you. We may want to speak
with several people involved in your case. This will always be done
with your permission. It is very important that good communication happens
between a client and their case manager. There needs to be a level of
trust and mutual respect developed. It is sometimes difficult to share
personal information with a stranger. Our relationship will be strictly
professional. This means that we will not be "friends" but we can and
hopefully will be "friendly" to each other. Some of the people
that we may want to speak to on your behalf will be doctors, therapists,
family members and of course, your attorney.
We may be making a recommendation to your attorney for a particular program that I think would be well suited to your needs and circumstances. In making specific referrals to treatment programs, we will need to know a lot of specific information about you personally as well as your Court case. Some examples of the types of referrals we can make for you will always include some kind of treatment for your mental illness. You may already be in treatment somewhere. This could either change completely or be modified, depending upon your needs. If you have a substance abuse issue, perhaps you will need specific treatment that will help you deal with these difficult issues. Any and all referrals will always be discussed with you first. If you are not in agreement with a specific treatment recommendation, it will not be a good idea to try it anyway because you will not be committed to that program. If you are upset or nervous about going into treatment that involves attending groups everyday, we can always visit a place before you decide what you are willing to do. We will support you in this process.
General Case Management: Overview of Services
Perhaps
you do not have a Court case at all. Maybe you would like to have General
Case Management Services. There are multiple things that we
can work on together, depending upon your needs. Perhaps you would benefit
from weekly visits or more often, if necessary. The purpose might be
to provide on-going support. It is possible that you could benefit
from several different kinds of case management services such as help
with budgeting your money, paying bills, looking for housing, applying
for benefits, or generally managing your symptoms. Perhaps you live with others right
now and your goal is to transition to independent living. We are
more than willing to help with any of these issues, either on a short-term
or an on-going basis. There are many things that we can do together
that may help you to enhance the quality of your life. Some things
can be relatively easy and other things may take some time. You may
desire help with getting connected to specific kinds of doctors to
address various physical problems. We have a strong background in nursing
and understand how important it is to address one's physical health.
Perhaps you are troubled by a kind of spiritual crisis. If this is something
you desire help with, we will be glad to help you sort it out. We are not
ordained ministers but we do have a strong background in theology and
our founder is a practicing Christian. If this is an area that you would like
to work on together, we will be happy to discuss things with you. We will
not force any of my beliefs upon you but will be open to discussing
any issues of faith that concern you. We are available to provide home
visits, as we believe that it is important to make a personal connection
on your own home ground. If you are more comfortable meeting in a public
place such as a coffee shop or restaurant that can easily be arranged.
We have a great deal of experience in the realm of benefits
advocacy. We are thoroughly versed in the application process and
the guidelines for Social Security Disability (SSI and SSD), Title 19,
Conn-Pace (a state supported drug prescription program), Section 8 and
H.U.D. supported housing programs. We are well acquainted with the appeal
process of a social security disability application both in the informal
hearing process and the formal hearing process held in front of an administrative
law judge. We have presented dozens of these cases and, to date, have
never lost a case. Success of your case, however is dependent upon the
severity of your illness and meeting the guidelines. We would not take
a case that did not meet the criteria for disability.
You may have a need for linkage to probate court. Perhaps you are in need of a conservator of person, estate, or both. There are several types of conservatorships, depending upon your needs. Sometimes a friend or family member is willing to act as conservator. This usually makes it easier for things to be managed as long as the conservator has your best interest in mind. There are also procedures for petitioning the Probate Court for removal of a conservator or replacement of one.
We will provide a free initial consultation usually conducted over the telephone. During this consultation, we will be able to tell you in what ways we think we can help you. We will then develop a plan to meet and sign a contract for services rendered.
Professional Case Management charges a standard fee of $100 per hour. You may elect to provide a retainer fee, which will cover several hours of case management service. Telephone contact and collateral contact (contact with others on your behalf) will also be charged as well as face-to-face contact with you. On-going services may cost less, particularly if you require services over a long period of time. This may depend upon the level of support provided.