Definition: Case management is a term used to describe the active process of managing all the mental health resources needed by a teen to maximize the process of healing. Professionals with specific skills and knowledge, known as case managers, provide the coordination of these services. The amount of case management needed depends on the complexity and seriousness of the teens' problems.

In providing case management, a case manager as is an advocate for the teen who clarifies the teen’s needs, identifies resources, collaborates with other professionals and tracks progress.

Case management is intended as a way to coordinate treatment so the teen is treated at the lowest level of care possible and receives the most critical services with a minimum of overlap. Sometimes this is done on an outpatient basis, for example a drug and alcohol counselor can provide case management to a teen abusing drugs. More commonly, case managers work with teens in psychiatric hospitals, residential or day treatment programs.

An example of a situation where case management services would be critical is a pregnant teen with diagnosed depression. Services needing to be coordinated include: medication management, pregnancy and parenting education, academic tutoring, health monitoring and individual therapy.

Parents are encouraged to ask about case management services for their troubled teen and to work closely with the professional case manager in locating and coordinating services. 

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