Special Population

Special Population

There are different types of special population that case managers works with. This paper will discuss some of the special population I have researched and the special population I chose. I will discuss why I chose this population and how my interest was formed. The paper will also include what I will bring to this field; my weaknesses and strengths and how I will use my strengths to over come my limitations. There will be diversity issues discussed and how they issues will be addressed. The final subject the paper will discuss is the resources available for the population I have chosen.

After doing the online research I found there is a variety of special population a case manager works with. Case managers work with adults and children that have been abused or neglected.

Case managers also work with adult and children with physical and mental disabilities. There are a great deal of case managers that work with families and individuals with low-income. Case managers also work with people that have substance abuse. The list can go on all the special population that a case manager works with.

Before I even done the research I basically had my mind made up on the population of children with disabilities. I chose this population because I have worked with children and adults with disabilities when I was younger and am currently working in the special education field. My interest was also formed by working in the field of special education. Over the years there seems to be more and more children born with disabilities and many families not knowing their resources available to them. So I think it would be rewarding to become a case manger working with children with disabilities; coordinating and connecting supports, resources for children and their parents at home, in child care, in school, and in health care and other community settings.

Helping families maintain the highest quality of life for their children, both in the community and at home.

My compassion and caring for children with disabilities and their families would be a strength I would have in this field. Another strength would be the knowledge and training I have working with children with disabilities. I have many years of experience working with children with disabilities which would aid in choosing what resources would be suitable for the children and their families. Working in the special education field also has given me the understanding of the challenges children with disabilities face and their families. My weakness may be getting to emotionally involved and bringing my work home. But with my strengths I know I could get the job done effectively and in a positive manner.

There is diversity in all aspects of today's society but I feel a case manager would have to deal with diversity issues more than others. Diversity is a main factor working with children with disabilities because they are considered to be a diverse population. Factor the children coming from a different ethnic cultural and they become even more diverse. To deal with diversity issues that may arise I would have to minimize bias and respect diversity when implementing plans for clients and speaking with clients. I need to try to identify with the clients culture and beliefs; taking all aspects of the client's cultural background into consideration and not ignoring ethnicity.

I must be cautious of minimizing actual differences between myself and client in an effort to be more culturally sensitive.

When researching the resources for children with disabilities I was amazed at all I found. Besides the local resources I also found a great deal of state resources. Here is a list of local resources/agencies I researched and what services each provide:

1. Camp millhouse - provides recreational summer camps for adults and children with disabilities

2. Children's Dispensary Inc. - provides social/recreational program for children and teens

3. Chiara Home Ð'- provides 24/7 out-of home respite care services for infants to senior with disabilities and special needs.

4. Down Syndrome Family Support and Advocacy Group - mission is to help improve the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families through education, advocacy, research, and fellowship.

5. Midwest Assistance Dogs -To help disabled individuals cope with life's daily challenges through the assistance of a trained canine companion.

6. Mishawaka Breakfast Optimist - mission is to foster an optimistic way of life, through a network of optimists, dedicated to the full development of their potential in order to provide ever-expanding service to youth, the community and the world.

7. Reins of Life, Inc. - is a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program dedicated to teaching therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with disabilities. Established in 1978, their mission is to improve the quality of life for everyone involved with equine-facilitated therapy and to educate the community about the abilities of people with disabilities.

8. St. Joseph County Special Olympics - Provide year round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, offering them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. They must be at lease 8 years old. There