Family-Strengths-Based Intensive Child Case Management

Abstract

The author presents findings from a project undertaken to explore the implementation of a rural state's family-strengths-based intensive child case management program for families with children with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities. Interviews with 20 child case management staff were conducted for the purpose of examining the extent to which child case managers' perceptions regarding work roles and activities reflected the new family-strengths-based philosophy of children's mental health service delivery. Thematic and content analysis of staff interviews revealed differences in staff perceptions regarding the role of the case manager and a hypothetical case example. The author discusses social work practice implications for the provision of intensive child case management programs and provides recommendations for areas of further inquiry.