SACA’s overall goal is always to help increase individual and family self-sufficiency, financial stability and quality of life.

“Case management” is a term that is often misunderstood.  But it simply means helping people to solve their problems.  It is an essential part of the community safety net and the most important tool in the social service kit for helping people move forward.

The earlier model of a kindly social worker walking up the door with a basketful of food and supplies has long since passed.  In today’s complex computer-driven world, maneuvering the legalistic system of public support and benefits is complicated and intimidating, especially for those already challenged with language deficits.  Clients need help in navigating the system – that is, figuring out where they need to go, what paperwork to bring, what they can ask for, who they should talk to, what their goals should be.  In short, they need a friend who can help.

This is where the case manager comes in.  Case management is loosely defined as a collaborative effort between the client and the SACA person to provide assessment, planning, facilitation and advocacy for options and services that can help the client meet their immediate needs and solve long standing problems.

SACA case managers are often the first point-of-entry for government and public health services.  They help clients assess their current situation and figure out what to do next.  They often help determine eligibility for life-saving benefits like food stamps, social security, supplemental security income (SSI), Medicaid and welfare and they may help clients get ready for important applications by organizing needed paperwork and documents.

They refer clients to health care facilities, HIV/AIDS testing, employment services, and help with mental health or substance abuse problems.  They give emotional support and encouragement and, most important, they help create an individualized progress plan that can be implemented and monitored over time.

SACA case managers make the difference between living in chaos, dependency and isolation or moving forward with a goal-oriented plan that builds on community support.  The help they bring cannot be over emphasized and for many in our community SACA case managers provide the essential first step towards self sufficiency and hope.