Case management

Level
no children

Case Management

Introduction

Case management is a service delivery approach in which staff meet with clients to provide direct, personalized one-on-one support to improve a comprehensive set of outcomes related to employment, education, housing, health, and public benefit receipt. This Evidence Snapshot summarizes what rigorous research tells us about 21 interventions that used case management as their primary service and the interventions’ impacts on earnings, employment, the receipt of public benefits, and education and training.

Day Treatment Program Plus Abstinence-Contingent Work Therapy and Housing

People experiencing homeless and substance use issues were eligible to enroll in a two-stage treatment program. During the first stage, participants were in day-treatment programming for 5.5 hours each weekday and resided in shelters or other temporary housing that participants secured through referrals to other agencies. Programming included group and individual therapy and coaching focused on helping participants address their substance use issues.

Project Housing and Alcohol Research Team (Project H&ART)—Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support (as compared with Referrals to Substance Use Treatment and Transportation Assistance)

In the first two-month phase, intervention group participants were housed in Project H&ART residences and received group and individual therapy (one or two sessions per week), art therapy, psychodrama, group education classes, and weekly recreational events. Intervention participants were also required to attend AA or NA meetings daily. In the second two-month phase, intervention group participants primarily received case management designed to encourage them to search for employment and develop soft skills.

Project Housing and Alcohol Research Team (Project H&ART)—Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support (as compared to Housing Without Peer Support)

Throughout the program, intervention group participants lived in Project H&ART residences. In the first two-month phase, participants attended group and individual therapy (one to two sessions per week), art therapy, psychodrama, group education classes, and weekly recreational events. Intervention participants also attended AA or NA meetings daily, which was required. In the second two-month phase, intervention group participants primarily received case management, which encouraged them to search for employment and to develop soft skills.

Project Housing and Alcohol Research Team (Project H&ART)—Housing with Peer Support (as compared with Referrals to Substance Use Treatment and Transportation Assistance)

The intervention housed participants in substance- and cost-free Project H&ART residences. Residence managers who were themselves recovering from substance use disorders provided participants with support. They encouraged participants to set personal goals and build peer support networks. Participants were required to (1) remain alcohol and drug free (as determined by random drug tests), (2) attend weekly community meetings, and (3) inform residence managers twice weekly about any other community services received.

Project Housing and Alcohol Research Team (Project H&ART)—Housing with Peer Support (as compared with Housing Without Peer Support)

The intervention housed participants in substance- and cost-free Project H&ART residences. Residence managers who were themselves recovering from substance use disorders provided participants with support, encouraged them to set personal goals, and helped them build peer support networks. Participants were required to (1) remain alcohol and drug free (as determined by random drug tests), (2) attend weekly community meetings, and (3) inform residence managers twice weekly about any other community services received.

Project Housing and Alcohol Research Team (Project H&ART)–Case Management, Substance Use Counseling, Plus Housing with Peer Support (as compared to Housing with Peer Support)

Throughout the program, intervention group participants lived in Project H&ART residences. In the first two-month phase, participants attended group and individual therapy (one to two sessions per week), art therapy, psychodrama, group education classes, and weekly recreational events. Intervention participants also attended AA or NA meetings daily, which was required. In the second two-month phase, intervention group participants primarily received case management, which encouraged them to search for employment and to develop soft skills.

Continuous Treatment Team (as compared to Drop-In Center)

Continuous Treatment Team provided participants with an unlimited amount of community-based services and an individualized plan to address their specific needs. Clinical case managers worked closely with clients to create their individualized plan; address their health needs; and help them access housing, transportation, and money management services. The service population included adults without housing who had a severe psychiatric disorder; no history of violent behavior; and an intention to stay in the St. Louis, MO, area for the duration of the study.

Outpatient Treatment (as compared to Continuous Treatment Team)

A mental health clinic in St. Louis, MO, provided the traditional outpatient treatment, which included psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, and assistance in obtaining social services. The service population included adults without housing who had a severe psychiatric disorder, no history of violent behavior, and an intention to stay in the St. Louis area for the duration of the study. The intervention lasted 12 months.

Continuous Treatment Team (as compared to Outpatient Treatment)

Continuous Treatment Team provided participants with an unlimited amount of community-based services and an individualized plan to address their specific needs. Clinical case managers worked closely with clients to create their individualized plan; address their health needs; and help them access housing, transportation, and money management services. The service population included adults without housing who had a severe psychiatric disorder; no history of violent behavior; and an intention to stay in the St. Louis, MO, area for the duration of the study.