Individuals participating in intensive addiction treatment programs have unlimited access to peer and professional support for the duration of their program. While this is an incredible benefit, clients in treatment programs can feel daunted by the thought of completing treatment. Clients may fear that they won’t function well without professional support and accountability. In these cases, it is essential to recognize that recovery is not completed once a treatment program is finished. Rather, recovery is a lifelong journey. Fortunately, case management supports healthy reintegration for clients as they transition back to life beyond the walls of a treatment facility.
At 12 South Recovery, we are committed to meeting our clients where they are at in their addiction treatment and recovery journey. We promote a client-centered philosophy of caring, prioritizing the use of individualized treatment for each person we serve. Moreover, we are aware of the challenges that often surface as clients transition from an intensive treatment program back into life outside of treatment. Because of this, we offer a plethora of recovery services to support reintegration, including case management and other aftercare services.
Understanding How Case Management Supports Addiction Recovery
Case management is a broad term that can be used in a wide range of treatment and healthcare settings. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines case management as “a coordinated, individualized approach that links patients with appropriate services to address their specific needs and help them achieve their stated goals.” For individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), case management is an effective way to stay engaged in treatment and recovery.
The Role of a Case Manager
Case management services are provided to clients by case managers. According to the book Comprehensive Case Management for Substance Abuse Treatment by SAMHSA, case managers have an important role. A case manager “offers the client a single point of contact with the health and social services system.” The presence of a case manager enables clients to place their full attention and focus on their treatment program. Case managers have many responsibilities, including, but not limited to:
- Coordinating and integrating support services to ensure optimal health and well-being of the client
- Educating clients and family members about the addiction treatment and recovery process as well as encouraging participation in family therapy
- Assisting clients in goal-setting as well as customizing clients’ treatment plans to ensure such goals are met on time
- Monitoring client progress throughout treatment and afterward
- Ensuring that treatment services are as cost-effective as possible for each client
- Evaluating potential risks of major life changes and transitions, including transitioning from a long-term treatment program back to life outside of treatment
How Case Management Supports Reintegration
Contrary to what some may believe, case management services are not finished once a treatment program is completed. Case management services are available to clients before they begin treatment, while they participate in a treatment program, and long after a program is completed. For many people, case management services may appear most valuable once they near the end of their treatment program and transition to life outside of treatment.
There are many ways that case management supports reintegration into life outside of treatment. Here are a few examples.
Ensuring Safe, Sober, and Supportive Housing
Whether clients are transitioning from an inpatient or outpatient treatment program back to life outside of treatment, case management services can ensure that every client secures safe, sober, and supportive housing. An individual’s living environment – as well as the people they live with – can certainly interfere with their ability to sustain lasting sobriety. Individuals are often tasked with finding alternative housing, as returning to their prior living environment where they used alcohol and other drugs can jeopardize their recovery.
Fortunately, case managers can assist clients in locating a living environment that is free from alcohol and other drugs, is supportive of their sobriety, and offers physical and emotional safety. Case managers can also locate budget-friendly living options for clients who may be financially unstable. Commonly, clients reside in community and sober living homes during the early stages of their recovery. At 12 South Recovery, our case management services can connect individuals with sober living homes while they are in treatment and long after.
Connecting Clients With Employment Opportunities
Another way that case management supports reintegration into life outside of treatment is by connecting clients with employment opportunities. Finding and securing long-term employment is imperative for lasting sobriety. Unfortunately, battles with addiction may leave gaps in resumes and contribute to cognitive decline. However, case managers can locate employment opportunities specifically for individuals in recovery. Case managers can also connect clients with skill-building opportunities to ensure each client can financially succeed outside of a treatment program.
Encouraging Participation in Aftercare Services
Individuals transitioning from a treatment program back to life outside of treatment may struggle with greater independence. They may wish they still had accountability with peers and professionals. Fortunately, aftercare services can offer the support and tools that individuals need to maintain their commitment to lasting sobriety.
Case managers help clients identify what forms of aftercare will best fit their unique needs and recovery goals. In addition, case managers can provide regular check-ins and other therapeutic opportunities to prevent relapse long after a treatment program has ended. By utilizing case management and aftercare services in tandem, individuals can effectively reintegrate back to life outside of treatment with the help of continued accountability by peers and professionals alike.
If you are new to the idea of case management, consider incorporating this service into your addiction recovery journey. Case management is a broad term that acknowledges the role of case managers in providing coordinated and individualized care to clients in substance abuse treatment. With a case manager, you have a single point of contact throughout your addiction treatment journey. This service allows you to place your full focus on healing and sobriety. At 12 South Recovery, we offer case management services to all of our clients seeking healing from substance use disorder (SUD) and other mental health disorders. Our case managers will help you transition out of treatment with ease. To learn more, call us today at (888) 830-8374.
