Notes: SCROLL DOWN (way past this text and the VERY USEFUL DEFINITIONS OF WHAT A CASE MANAGER IS) to see the current list of organizations providing "Case Management" Services.

CHOOSE A STATE with the little pull down menu to the right just atop the list of organizations...BELOW the GREEN links. Pull down the menu and choose YOUR STATE.

IF YOU ARE A SURVIVOR OF A DISASTER:

FIND A CASE MANAGER!!!

Case Managers can be found at organizations with the word "Avail" to the right of the organization's address. Be aware that Case Managers are in an EXTREMELY short supply. So depending on when you call, you may or may not be accepted as a client of the organization's case management team. But keep trying...call everyone on the list...and get on waiting lists, if necessary.

NOTE: not all organizations serve all geographies. Most only help survivors in the town or county that their org operates in. You can "filter" this list to show only the orgs in your state, by pulling down the "state" pulldown menu on the left, below the text (and above the list). You can then "sort" the table by town by clicking on the word "town" at the top of the list.

To get contact details for the orgs listed, click on the organization's name on the left.

Case Managers are GREAT resources! They help survivors navigate the bureaucracy. And, if the survivor is qualified for assistance, they help survivors find sources of funding in "the private sector". The private sector, which includes large charities and foundations, is a major source of money for survivors.

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WHAT IS A "CASE MANAGER"?

* NASW's (National Association of Social Worker) definition:

Case managers help provide an array of services to help individuals and families cope with complicated situations in the most effective way possible, thereby achieving a better quality of life. They help people to identify their goals, needs, and resources. From that assessment, the case manager and the client whether an individual or a family together formulate a plan to meet those goals. The case manager helps clients to find resources and facilitates connection with services. Sometimes she or he advocates on behalf of a client to obtain needed services. The case manager also maintains communication with the client to evaluate whether the plan is effective in meeting the clients goals.

See the link: http://www.helpstartshere.com/

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* A REAL LIFE CASE MANAGER'S VIEW:

Most Case Managers these days are:

Shoulder to cry on - the one they call when they are ready to give up, or angry at the system, or the dog died, they can't afford thier medications, or the marriage is falling apart

Social Worker - help them put together the pieces to get thier life back, not just a house

Project Estimator - figuring out how much the needed pieces will cost, getting printed estimates from the vendors, re-adjusting them til they fit the finances available

Resource & Networking Specialist - going to meetings and searching the web for any source of needed services -establishing relationships with other agencies, keeping contact lists current, knowing who to got to for what

Grant Writer - writing grants needed for each client, varying from 10 pages to 30- getting all the necessary approvals from the funders

Advocate - "selling" the clients case to the LTRC - at 3 seperate meetings, having all the documents and a convincing "story" to get them approved despite others who may want to make it difficult for you because they don't like you or feel threatened by you...

Project Coordinator - after the funds are approved, making sure the materials are all delivered, are delivered time, that there is someone to unload the truck, that the work is done to code and passes inspections before going ot the next step

Volunteer Coordinator - soliciting the volunteers needed to fo the work, making sure they are qualified and can do it, tracking where they left off so the next crew knows where to start

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* A WONDERFUL TAKE ON CASE MANAGEMENT relative to a view of the AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES, put into context of the Katrina recovery by Kathleen Johnson (see more at: http://www.reliefvolunteers.com/HancockCaseManagement.html

What is Case Management?

As the various churches and relief organizations hit the ground in the Gulf Coast region ? the first response was to request citizens to fill in Work Request Forms in order to organize volunteers to respond to those needs. The request forms, initially, were requests for immediate needs such as emergency shelter (tents), food, clothing and medical needs.

Time progressed and needs and requests expanded to debris removal from property in order to accommodate FEMA trailers. Then came the re-construction phase where residents are wading thru a myriad of forms: FEMA trailer applications and maintenance issues, temporary power poles along with restoring water and sewage utilities, FEMA grants, State grants, SBA forms, HUD forms, and a variety of individual non profit agency grants, building permits, condemnation orders, R.O.E. issues, appeals to agencies when grant applications are denied, legal issues resulting from the storm, ongoing issues with home insurance claims, relocation assistance for displaced citizens, gutting of homes, reconstruction, location of available material resources, and employment issues.

Moving forward the disaster teams and church organizations assigned case managers to individuals in order to better advocate solutions for the citizens rather than force them to travel from church to church or from disaster response team to disaster response team. For some the tangled maze of available grants along with the complicated rules and regulations, at the State and Federal level, is more than they can cope with.

Case Managers facilitate long term recovery plans with each of the clients on an individual basis dependent on their personal goals, needs, and available fiscal resources derived from grants and insurance. By networking within the system they are intimately acquainted with ? caseworkers empower the client on the road to recovery in a ?one stop shop? platform as opposed to the alternate which is multiple lists at multiple churches and organizations. The more effective Case Manager does not orchestrate the solutions but offers options and assists with the long term recovery plan the client chooses for themselves.

Goal of the Case Worker:

- Develop a long term recovery plan based on individual priorities towards self sufficiency. This covers both emotional and material needs.

- Evaluate relief that has already been received and the relief that has been applied for.
Recommend other resources and assistance.

- Advocate, as necessary, when obstacles arise.

- Develop a system that allows for consistent systematic follow-up until completion of the recovery plan.

Mission of Supporting Agency:

- Define agency mission clearly

- Clearly advertise services, phone numbers, email addresses, and websites
- Network with other agencies and organizations to effectively and equitably facilitate resource sharing
Prioritize services based on means and needs

- Organize field assessments to seek out unique populations

- Provide a fully comprehensive walk in center with set hours, staff, and self help literature

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We hope that this database is of use to you. Please email us feedback! terra@citizenactionteam.org

If you would like an "Executive Tour" of this tool or to learn about the tool's functions, please let us know!

IF YOU ARE A CASE MANAGER AND ARE NOT ON THIS LIST AND WANT TO BE ON THE LIST:

Please click on "facilities/organizations" (upper left) and scroll down to "enter a facility" (on the left) for instructions for how to get yourself on this list. If you register yourself, you will be able to immediately edit your facility record. We are happy to register your organization for you. But if we do it, then when you want to edit it, you'll have to get "write access" from us.

KEEP SCROLLING TO SEE THE LIST OF ORGS THAT PROVIDE "CASE MANAGEMENT". Case Managers can be found at organizations with the word "Avail" to the right of the organization's address.

• 00 * * KEY ITEMS * *
• Category: Medical Services/Programs & Mental Health Services/Programs & Support

• Category: Social Services & Programs, for Disaster Survivors & Low Income (free, or nearly free)
• Z - Command & Control for Disaster Relief (Internal Use ONLY)