Professionals who provide case management services to their clients use goals to structure the service plan. It is important to create specific behaviors that will remove the barriers to treatment while increasing the client’s self-sufficiency skills. Without goals, it is unlikely that the client and the professional would be successful in their work. Many professionals use the SMART goal approach. This includes writing short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals.

Read the following scenario and try to develop goals for this client. Be prepared to explain why you would set these goals and how the client would know when the goals have been met.

Scenario: Hanna

Hanna is in treatment at your mental health center for Acute Stress Disorder. She tells you that recently, she is unable to think clearly at night because she begins to feel anxious that her oldest son will not return safely from his military deployment. She adds that her boss has given her two extra shifts a week at her call center job. It is overwhelming during those shifts the client reports because they are the heaviest call times. Client stated that she is in line for a promotion, so does not want to refuse the shifts. Client then reported that she has not been eating or sleeping well because she has to drink wine to get to sleep at night. Client stated that she thinks that she needs to drink to get to sleep now. When asked about her children, client stated that she and her husband have custody of them, but her youngest daughter is causing a lot of trouble in school. She thinks that the daughter might have a mental health or learning disability issue but is unsure. The client mentions that her husband might contact the school because he is really good with working with the children on their homework at night. Before leaving the session, the client reported that her stomach has been hurting for the past week and she can barely move sometimes because of the cramps.

Imagine that you are going to write a service plan for Hanna. Identify her most immediate needs. What are some long-term needs?

Write a S.M.A.R.T. goal for the short-term that relates to her case management needs.

Write two S.M.A.R.T. goals for the mid-term case management needs (e.g., services or self-sufficiency goals).

Write three S.M.A.R.T. goals for her long-term needs. Include one goal that relates to the development of self-sufficiency skills.

Explain the barriers to treatment that are in the scenario and propose at least two agencies in your local area that could provide services for her