Case Reviews - byJanet Sugar

Case reviews fall into two categories. There are those that deal with the day services program and those that deal with the residence in which our children are living. In some instances, the case review can include material from both the program and the residence agency. When your child attends a day program that is affiliated with a different agency than the one of the agency in which he or she lives, there may be two separate meetings.

Case reviews are supposed to take place at least twice a year and are called annuals and biannuals. However, if a parent or guardian feels the need, he or she can ask for a meeting more often. So if you feel that there is a significant problem in the residence or the day program, you may ask for a meeting and have your service-coordinator set it-up. Or you may set it up yourself.

The purposes of case reviews are to go over what is being done to meet the needs of your child and to make plans for what would be good for them in the future.

The people who attend these case reviews can be parents or other family members, guardians, advocates, service coordinators, treatment coordinators, residence managers, direct care staff and any other people who are delivering services, such as nutritionists, nurses, and therapists.

At these meetings, first of all, you and the staff should discuss the progress that your child has made over the past six months or a year and plan on how this progress can be continued. At this point, it is a good thing to praise or thank staff who have been helpful. (These are not easy jobs.) You will want to review the services and see if you feel they are adequate or others are needed. For instance, you may feel that your child could benefit from speech therapy and you would like your service coordinator to obtain this service. Or perhaps it's physical therapy, psychological therapy or any other service that you feel could benefit your child. If you don't notice any need yourself, ask your service coordinator or any staff member for suggestions. These needs fall into two categories - Day Service Program and Residential. For example, in the day program, you may feel your child would do better in supportive work, rather than a workshop, or a day habilitation program rather than a workshop. In the residence, you may look for an exercise program, socialization program, recreation or self-care training.

All these programs are available for you or your service coordinator to discover. And the starting point is a "case review" meeting to talk about needs and possibilities. It is helpful and important for parents to come prepared with a written list and to try and have as much control as possible over these meetings.

I have attended some meetings just used by agencies to complain about problems that they are having with a particular person, rather than focus on how to help and improve the person Very little is accomplished-at such a meeting.

So, parents, come prepared to do battle for your children and get the appropriate services they need. And it should be remembered, you are not there simply as a guest. You are there because, according to the regulations of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, you are a full member of the Treatment Team.

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