Black Lives Matter

Racism has been a problem in this country since it's inception.  Granted, it has gotten a lot better over the last couple centuries, but it is still a problem nonetheless.  Most instances of institutionalized racism today seem to come in the form of racial profiling.  In recent times, there has been a media storm of white police officers caught on video shooting, beating, and even killing black males, many of whom turn out to be innocent and unarmed.  This is where Black Lives Matter (BLM) comes in.

According to their own website (blacklivesmatter.com), "#BlackLivesMatter was created in 2012 after Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted for his crime, and dead 17-year old Trayvon was posthumously placed on trial for his own murder. Rooted in the experiences of Black people in this country who actively resist our dehumanization, #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society."

In my opinion, BLM has a legitimate cause on which I stand behind them 100%.  However, I disagree with their methods 100% as well.  The greatest civil rights movement in the history of our country took place in the 1960's, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  So many great things were accomplished, and many hearts and minds were changed by the way Dr. King's movement operated.  His methods were non-violent, non-confrontational, peaceful, and based on understanding, respecting, and even loving one's enemies without backing down or giving in to their hatred.  

BLM's modus operandi is pretty much the exact opposite.  They have crashed the rallies of presidential candidates,  accosting and heckling speakers like Sen. Bernie Sanders who has fought for their cause his whole career.  They have blocked traffic on busy freeways.  They yell obscenities.  They have even incited riots.  One thing they don not seem to do, however, is change the minds of racist people.  If anything, they solidify the racist, white supremacist's view that black people are savage.

I am well aware of my white privilege.  I understand that I do not have first-hand experience of what it is like to be a person of color in a majority white country.  However, I do not think I am wrong about the BLM movement.  In fact, many former civil rights activists from the 1960's would agree with me.  One of whom is Barbara Reynolds, whose opinion you can read here:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/24/i-was-a-civil-rights-activist-in-the-1960s-but-its-hard-for-me-to-get-behind-black-lives-matter/?utm_term=.59a80374c5a7.

One question I have about BLM is:  When will they realize they are doing more harm than good?

I'm certain Dr. King is rolling in his grave.

Chapter 11: Thriving and Surviving as a Case Manager

Chapter 11 of our textbook gives some solid counsel, from real case managers working in the field, as to what makes for an effective and successful case manager.  The case managers who were interviewed for this chapter collectively relayed advice that can be summarized into eight "themes" or categories:

Performance of Multiple Roles
It is important that a case manager be a "Jack (or Jill) of all trades" if they are to provide effectual service to their clients.  Advocate, broker, coordinator, planner, and problem solver are all roles that a case manager must frequently take on.  Case managers see many different clients, all with different cases and needs, so they must be flexible and have a very broad skill set.

Organizational Abilities
Organization is also very important.  Time management is critical, especially if they have a big caseload.  Time has to be made for planning, budgeting, scheduling, meeting with clients, and responding to their questions and needs.  The mountain of paperwork case managers often find themselves buried in also requires good organizational abilities to keep up with it.

Communication Skills
Good, clear communication is arguably one of the most important skills an effective case manager can develop.  Communication is fundamental to establishing a helping relationship, assessing needs and persuading clients.  One cannot expect the client to open up to or cooperate with someone who they feel does not really listen to them.  Also, one could have some really brilliant ideas, but if they cannot articulate them to the client clearly, they may as well keep them to their self.

Setting-Specific Knowledge
Effective case managers must possess general office skills such as typing, and computer literacy.  Many occasions arise where knowledge of medical terminology, medications, drug side effects, etc., may come in handy.  It is also important to understand systems such as Medicare and Medicaid, probation, child welfare, and public housing in order to help the client interact with other agencies.

Ethical Decision Making
Case managers are frequently faced with ethical dilemmas, and must make hard decisions in the best interest of their clients.

Boundaries
It is essential for case managers to establish clear boundaries between their selves and their clients.  It can be very easy for one to get caught up in their client's problems and mistake them for their own.  Effective case managers try to maintain a professional relationship with their clients and do not get too personally attached to them or their circumstances.

Critical Thinking
The ability to "see the forest for the trees," that is, to see the big picture instead of simply its individual parts is another important skill for an effective case manager.  Case managers must often act as "detectives" to uncover the real issues when clients are either not telling the whole story, or do not even understand the problem themselves.  Sometimes they must "read between the lines" of what their client is disclosing to them instead of taking the client's words at face value.

Personal Qualities
It really takes a special kind of person to become an effective case manager.  Some qualities that they need to have include:  realistic, patient, and flexible.  It's also important for case managers to be self-confident and assertive when dealing with other professionals or resistant clients. Finally, case mangers need to have a sense of adventure and excitement about their work, and take good physical and mental care of themselves in order to prevent job burnout.

For more skills and qualities needed by effective case managers read the article:
"Case Managers Need a Variety of Skills and Qualities to Succeed" by AHC Media.
https://www.ahcmedia.com/articles/135663-case-managers-need-a-variety-of-skills-and-qualities-to-succeed

One question I had after reading this chapter and the article I linked was:  With all the time spent developing the skills and qualities one needs to become a case manager, and given the importance of the work they do, why are case managers so under-appreciated and under paid?