It is the expectation of NJ’s Children’s System of Care that a Care Manager will listen to what a youth and family identify as their strengths and needs and then help them determine what services and supports would be helpful. The Care Manager can authorize payment for treatment and they can link families to community supports with the goal of helping the youth stay in their home, in school and out of the justice system. A Care Manager should:

• Build a rapport/establish relationships with the youth, caregiver(s), providers, and anyone else the youth/family wants to invite to be a part of the Child Family Team (CFT)
• Facilitate CFT meetings; work towards the family running their own CFTs
• Be strength-based & don’t allow meetings to become negative and unproductive
• Promote independence through education & support, not “doing for”
• Help the youth/family create a relevant crisis plan and update it as needed
• Collaborate with the youth/family to develop individualized care plans that address the youth/family’s concerns and work towards the family vision
• Coordinate linkage to services: therapeutic (IIC, BA, IOP, PHP, evaluations), recreational (mentoring, community activities, sports) support (FSO, support groups, family success centers) and monitor if the plan that has been put in place is working; help revise it as necessary
• Act as “the middleman” or “hub” for communication and ensure that all CFT partners are updated on youth’s plan and progress
• Look at youth and families from a “Person-Centered” & “Nurtured Heart” approach (be non-judgmental, genuine and clear in our communication)
• Be creative, “thinking outside of the box” to develop strategies to address needs
• Help families identify their natural supports (family, friends, community support – coaches, teachers, pastors) that will be in place after CMO services end
• Provide support options during off hours (CM on-call, 2^nd Fl, Parent2Parent Line)
• Monitor care in out of home treatment settings and detention & help plan transition home
• Work with partners (DCP&P, FSO, Mobile Response, the school system, juvenile justice system) to ensure cohesive coordination of services/support
•  “Be a Helping Hand”