One of the characteristics of our Waiver Case Management Department our organization takes pride in is keeping the number of caseloads manageable for each staff member. Each case manager is responsible for no more than 40 cases, while other agencies may assign 60 to 100 cases per case manager. Case Manager Sarah Martin sees the significance of that. “We are a group of people that values connections with others,” she says, emphasizing how impactful a person-centered approach is when working with individuals. “We spend more time with clients, and that is then more rewarding for us all.”
Sarah has especially felt the rewarding nature of her work after “working a long time getting something set up and you see it finally come to fruition.” One example was helping someone begin to attend a day program. After researching options, communicating with the family, and developing a transition plan, Sarah says the person worked up from attending a few times each week to every week day. The parents now report that even during the middle of the night, this individual will wake up, excited to go to the program.
As a Reach employee, Sarah also feels rewarded with a flexible work schedule, a caring environment, and attention to employee wellness. She initially heard about Reach in 2018 from a friend who also works at Reach, and has appreciated the variety of knowledge she has gained during her time so far. “Learning about providers as well as families’ experiences has shown me a lot of different angles” in this type of career.