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Intensive Case Management

Intensive case management promotes independence and quality of life to persons with serious mental illness through the coordination of appropriate services and the provision of continuing support, as needed.

Intensive case management services ensure that individuals are provided needed services in a coordinated, effective, and efficient manner. Because it can sometimes be difficult to understand the criteria for receiving different services, case managers also often act as advocates on behalf of the people they work with.

Intensive case management is offered to people in their own community. Case managers will work with people over a long period of time to build trust and a good relationship. They may meet with a person several times a week, or more or less, depending on what each person needs and wants.

The professionals who work as case managers may have different educational backgrounds. Nurses, social workers, social service workers and other types of health care professionals provide case management services. They work out of different health care settings, including community mental health agencies, hospitals and other community agencies.

Case managers will often meet with the family members of their clients. They can learn more about a person's illness, strengths and goals from family members. They may also be able to teach the family about ways to support and help their family member with a mental illness. In some cases, they may be able to offer support to the family members themselves.

Related Resources

Case Management Programs in Ontario

Mental Health Service Information Ontario (MHSIO) listing of government-funded case management programs.

Intensive Case Management Service Standards for Mental Health Services and Supports (PDF)

Guidelines published by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

An Evaluation of Intensive Case Management for Persons with Severe Mental Illness Who Are Homeless

A Community Mental Health Evaluation Initiative research project to evaluate the efffectiveness of intensive case management.