A social work practice model of case management: the case management grid

Case management is a major component of the current mainstream of social work practice. Nevertheless, the field has failed to adequately conceptualize case management. The first step in defining case management practice is to separate it from the administrative structure that forms the context of practice. The next step is to delineate the two basic dimensions of case management--enabling and facilitating. The role of the social work case manager is to integrate formal systems of care with the activities of families and primary groups. Case management practice focuses on enabling individuals and primary groups to reach their full potential and on facilitating more effective interaction with the larger social environment. The case management grid illustrates how social work practitioners integrate enabling and facilitating into their practice approaches.