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Drug Court Case Management: Role, Function, and Utility

NCJ Number
216093
Author(s)
Randy Monchick Ph.D.; Anna Scheyett M.S.; Jane Pfeifer MPA
Date Published
June 2006
Length
75 pages
Annotation
This monograph describes the role of case management in a drug court setting and overviews the role and key functions of drug court case managers.
Abstract
Following the executive summary, the first chapter presents an overview of the role of case management in the drug court process, which is to ensure that clients are linked to relevant services, that service efforts are monitored and connected, and that pertinent information gathered during the assessment and monitoring is provided to the entire drug court team. The second chapter offers a history of the case management approach and describes the four case management models for drug courts: (1) Broker/Generalist; (2) Strengths-Based Perspective; (3) Assertive Community Treatment; and (4) Clinical/Rehabilitation. All four models share a core group of five key functions: (1) assessment; (2) planning; (3) linking; (4) monitoring; and (5) advocacy. Each of these key functions is described in the third chapter, followed by a listing of performance benchmarks designed to assist drug courts with developing and sustaining their case management programs. The fourth chapter focuses on the other unique demands of drug court case management, such as the mandate to offer a professional, interdisciplinary team case management approach while treating clients who may need sanctioning to comply with requirements. This chapter stresses that case managers must work to ensure services provided to clients follow evidence-based best practices, which requires case managers to stay current with the research literature regarding intervention and treatment. The fifth chapter discusses the principles, knowledge, and skills necessary to be an effective case manager and presents real world examples of drug court case management in action. The sixth chapter reviews administrative issues in the development and enhancement of drug court case management programs while the final chapter presents information about the case manager’s role in management information systems and program evaluation and stresses that the case manager serves as the hub through which all information flows to other drug court team members. References