Implementing strengths model for youth in community mental health: Impact on case managers' professional quality of life

Case management is a frequently offered service to children and families receiving community based mental health care. However, despite its frequent use, child and adolescent mental health case management lacks formal structure leading to service ambiguity and poor outcomes, for both families being served, and the professionals serving them. This paper explores the implementation of the Strengths Model for Youth, a recovery oriented case management model, at a community mental health center and its relationship with case managers' professional quality of life. Researchers administered the Professional Quality of Life survey to child and adolescent mental health case managers implementing the Strengths Model for Youth at baseline and at six months into implementation. Results indicate the Strengths Model for Youth has positive impacts on case managers' feelings of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue after six months of using the model.