The Recovery Corps treats case management very differently than FEMA and HUD. Our view of case management is not limited to simply supplying housing for clients. Instead, our case management model is one that promotes client self-sufficiency and reciprocal accountabilities among those providing the services and those receiving the services and is an essential aspect of any long-term human recovery plan developed by the Recovery Corps.
                                 
The Recovery Corps conceptualized and developed a proprietary strength-based case management model called the Recovery Corps Model for Recovery Planning. It is a comprehensive case management model that is consistent with United Nations models and more comprehensive than many in existence today.

The overall philosophy of our model is one of client self-sufficiency. One of the few fully-vetted models assessed by a reputable academic group (read Berkeley Policy Associates' evaluation), the Recovery Corps model is built on that vetted version and now uses lessons learned from previous case management experiences and features a number of unique elements, including an outcome-based approach, Efforts to Outcomes software designed to account for specific data, direct assessment and assistance, and specific workforce requirements.

Additionally, the Recovery Corps model also includes real-time benchmarks to ensure accountability by the client and the agency and calls for the alignment of state resources to directly assist the client. Finally, the Recovery Corps model provides each client with a real opportunity for self-sufficiency by referring clients to the Louisiana Workforce Commission to be assessed for job training and placement and back to other state agencies, if needed, for any other required social services.

The Recovery Corps model addresses basic needs, but also includes mental health and emotional well-being, household re-establishment and management, and employment.

Our holistic approach:

1. Emphasizes developing and supporting household self-sufficiency;
2. Considers all aspects of the household’s situations;
3. Conducts comprehensive needs and strength assessments;
4. Combines direct assistance in the form of home repairs and household re-establishment benefits with case management services;
5. Develops a meaningful recovery plan to address those needs; and
6. Remains mindful of the household’s strengths and aligns those with outside resources available to support the recovery process

As noted, our case management model combines traditional human services with direly-needed direct assistance. Direct assistance is critical to the full recovery of the people of Louisiana. Direct services provide a vital and immediate link for those households that need limited support to bridge support gaps. Those gaps include basic needs such as security deposits, utility deposits, and move-in expenses. As the state struggles to meet these additional needs, the risk to households in transition grows.

The households that today simply need direct assistance to pay back utility bills or rent deposits for new housing face the very real potential of becoming homeless if these needs are not met.

The ongoing human service needs that all of the state’s storm survivors will face simply cannot be measured. But without doubt, these critical supports cannot be adequately provided to households, in such a way that promotes truly sustainable and independent living, if they are on the street or focusing all of their attention and efforts on maintaining inadequate housing situations for their families. The health and welfare of populations in need of longer term case management (such as people with disabilities, seniors, and children) will surely be jeopardized by the termination of the DHAP program, as well as the failure of the DCMP program to launch.

DHHS/ACF Case Management Pilot 

The Recovery Corps worked in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on a disaster case management pilot project to determine and demonstrate the feasibility of developing, creating, and maintaining an integrated Disaster Case Management program.

The Recovery Corps worked with Catholic Charities USA to evaluate to implementation of ACF's case management model to ensure that it was consistent with the intent of the program. The evaluation included reviewing the relevant statutes, planning scenarios, and other documents and holding meetings with case management partners, including volunteer organizations involved in case management and other Federal agencies with case management programs. Drawing upon existing human services and disaster management networks and expertise, ACF then assisted states in establishing the capacity to provide case management services in the event of a disaster.

The DHHS/ACF Case Management Pilot had two primary goals:

1. To test a new model of DCM service delivery and record best practices/lessons learned for program improvement. The pilot seeks to provide a new model of disaster case management, one focused on children and families. The pilot is an opportunity to test the model, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and redesign the model to incorporate the lessons learned during this implementation. Through this pilot, a better model of service delivery will be created to assist those most affected by disasters, both natural and man-made.
2. To provide disaster case management services to over 10,000 individuals affected by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Unlike many pilots, this implementation seeks to assist real survivors of disaster. The 10,000 people across Louisiana who will receive disaster case management services were victims of the hurricanes that ravaged Louisiana in 2008. While testing a new service model, the pilot will also help repair the lives of thousands of families who are in need of assistance to return to pre-disaster levels of functioning and self-sufficiency.

 

Cora Brown Case Management Program / Katrina Aid Today

In addition to its work on the DHHS/ACF Case Management Pilot, the Recovery Corps also assisted the federal government close out an earlier case management program associated with impacted families from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Recovery Corps was selected by the state of Louisiana to manage the Bridge Case Management Program, also referred to as the Cora Brown Case Management Program. The Recovery Corps worked diligently to ensure a successful implementation of the program, based on guidelines previously established by FEMA. The purpose of the program was to enable former Katrina Aid Today (KAT) case management agencies to continue providing case management services to clients who had not yet had their disaster-related needs met. Six agencies in Louisiana agreed to participate in the program.

The Recovery Corps ensured that a recovery plan was developed for all clients with open cases during the bridge program and that strategies were developed that utilized any available resources to meet clients’ remaining needs and bring them to a point of program closure.

The Recovery Corps managed 1,734 cases from March 2008 to May 2008, closing 1,463 successfully by accessing and advocating for resources for client recovery through our six local partner agencies. There were 271 cases that remained open at the end of the program and were reported to FEMA in May 2008.