Your supervisor has reviewed your service plan for the client, Sue, described in the case example below, and feels the plan is too heavily focused on Sue’s problems and not focused enough on her strengths. Your supervisor has asked you to prepare a memo to her addressing:

• How might you focus on strengths to engage Sue in case management during your next meeting with her?
• Describe how you would use motivational interviewing to help Sue change her present situation.
• By focusing on strengths, what would you hope to accomplish in each of the three case management phases?
• What additional information would you like to have about Sue that would facilitate a strengths-based approach?
• What resources do you think are available for Sue? How would you find out?

In your responses, cite three scholarly sources. Format your paper per the guidelines in APA 6th. The title and reference pages are not part of the total page count.

Case Example:

Homeless Sue, a 35-year-old female, has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia Disorder exhibiting delusions and hallucinations. In addition, she has problems with social environment, occupational problems, housing problems, and economic problems.

Sue is an Iraq War veteran. She served as a liaison to human resources and then as a paramedic. Sue was honorably discharged in 2009. Before she served, she received a degree in medical technology at a local community college. Her father was a veteran and she grew up on army bases. She attended five high schools in four years. Her mother was a secretary and a teacher. She has not seen her family for two years; she lived with them after her return from Iraq, but both parents and Sue could not find a peaceful way to live together.

Sue can often be seen walking to and from the downtown area and the local grocery store. She spends most of her days on the streets. A case manager working downtown saw her walking through the rain and called a friend working for a shelter. She asked if she could refer Sue. The outreach team located Sue during one of her walks the next week.

The outreach worker learned that Sue cleaned up several local businesses late at night. She slept in the places she cleaned. She appeared sober but complained of hearing voices. She believed that she was in danger from wild animals most of the time. She feared for her life; she thought her parents would find her and kill her. Sue had never been arrested. Sue indicated she didn’t want to live in a house, and she did not want to live with anybody around. People scared her; noises scared her. She had trouble sleeping.

The outreach worker referred Sue to a local homeless shelter providing comprehensive care. Reluctantly, Sue agreed to come to an initial interview. She asked the interviewer (who was also a case manager) if they could meet on the streets for the interview. The case manager agreed. After the initial screening, the case manager asked Sue if she would be willing to participate in additional in-depth interviews. She declined, but when each week the case manager encouraged her, she reluctantly said “yes.”

Mental health assessments concluded with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Sue refused medication. She continues to hear voices, rejects offered housing, but occasionally meets the case manager on the streets. She was willing to be placed on the agency service roles. The service plan for Sue continues to evolve.