Case Workers and Mental Health: Referring Clients for Residential or Outpatient Care

Author:

Jemma Strain

B.S. Psychology

Editor:

Emma Loker

B.S.

Case workers and mental health care are regularly intertwined. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are on the rise – becoming one of the main forms of illness globally. This means that case workers are more commonly encountering teens with mental health issues.

Case workers are especially important for ensuring that a teen doesn’t “fall through the cracks” in mental health care. They can conduct an assessment, improve access to treatment and resources, and collaborate with families and mental health professionals. As a result of their involvement, a teenager and their family can feel better supported throughout their recovery.

If your child has been assigned a case worker for their mental health, you might be feeling confused and concerned about what this might mean. Mental health professionals can answer any questions you may have about this process, and this article can also work as a guide as it discusses:

The role of a case worker in mental health treatment
How case workers refer clients for mental health care
Case workers and outpatient mental health referrals
How case workers refer teens to residential care
Case workers and treatment options for children
When to seek help in understanding mental health referrals for minors

Case Worker Role in Mental Health Treatment

Mental health conditions can affect all areas of a teenager’s life, from their emotional and physical health and relationships to their academic performance. This means that they may need comprehensive treatment which reduces the impact on all these areas.

Case workers are commonly the first port of call in mental health crises – so they may frequently encounter children with severe mental illness. They work alongside teens and their families to help them cope with conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Their general role in mental health treatment is to ensure that a teenager receives the support they need in different areas to heal and thrive.^1,2

Not only can a case worker ensure that a teen is supported in their emotional and physical recovery, but they can also evaluate whether they pose a risk to their own safety. Additionally, they can also look for any indications of ongoing abuse. This means that case workers can help put steps in place to safeguard a teenager’s security and well-being.²

How Case Workers Refer Clients for Mental Health Care

Persistent and severe mental health conditions can seriously impact a teen’s well-being and outlook for the future – as well as their parents’ ability to support them. Therefore, they may be assigned a case worker to make sure they receive the right support and outpatient or residential treatment options for their needs.²

Every teenager with a mental health condition has varying symptoms and needs, so a case worker typically focuses on building strong relationships and communication patterns. This way, if a child has symptoms and needs which require referral to mental health services, case workers are in a strong place to know how to start this process.

Although the referral process can differ slightly depending on the context in which the case worker knows the child, the following are the general referral guidelines for accessing treatment.

Steps for Case Workers to Refer Clients for Treatment

The following are the general steps involved in case worker referrals for treatment.^2,3

Making an Assessment:

Mental health case workers work with teenagers and their families to help them cope with any issues that interfere with relationships, school work, daily activities, and overall ability to function.

However, mental health case workers predominantly focus on emotional and behavioral symptoms, so they are well-placed to evaluate a teen’s mental health. Additionally, a case worker can also conduct a risk assessment to determine whether there are factors affecting a child’s safety.

If they determine that a child’s mental health is affecting their daily life, they can share their concerns with parents, mental health professionals, and schools to start the referral process.

Involving Other Adults in the Child’s Care:

If a case worker suspects that a teen’s mental health is affecting their quality of life, they’ll take steps to involve the right forms of support. For instance, if a child is able to heal in the community, they might help arrange outpatient treatment. However, if they suspect that a teen’s well-being is more seriously affected, they may start the process of referral to a residential treatment program.

Throughout this process, a case worker will collaborate with everyone involved in the child’s care. This means that they’ll talk to parents about a child’s difficulties, as well as involve professionals such as psychologists and psychiatrists. Also, they’ll communicate with the teen about what’s happening. The treatment process is not something that happens to a teen – it’s a joint undertaking between everyone involved.

Participation in Treatment:

While a teenager is receiving mental health treatment, a case worker can find suitable community-based resources to help them in their recovery. This might include peer support groups, family education groups, and community clinics. Additionally, if a care worker is licensed to deliver counseling, they can participate in the treatment process in either an individual or group setting. This means they can help a teen on a one-to-one basis, or involve their family in therapy if this is something that is needed.

Evaluation and Modification:

Case workers have the unique circumstance of being able to see a child’s progress in treatment, the community, and the family environment. Therefore, they can accurately see improvements in emotions and actions. Based on these improvements, or a perceived lack of, they may make recommendations for the treatment process if they feel that modifications are necessary.

Aside from these steps, a case worker may also focus specifically on referrals to outpatient or inpatient treatment depending on a teen’s needs. Let’s take a closer look at these processes.

Duty of Care and Confidentiality in Mental Health Referrals

All healthcare professionals and institutions, including outpatient and residential mental health programs, have to ensure the security, privacy, and protection of patient’s healthcare information. In fact, there is a code of ethics that mental health professionals follow to ensure they are consistently professional and acting in their client’s best interest – and this includes confidentiality.³

In previous years, healthcare workers were allowed to gather patient data for research to better understand the needs of people within the healthcare system. This data only left out the patients’ names. However, this is no longer allowed. Once a new set of rules around privacy were created – the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – patient medical information was kept secure.³

To help you better understand the duty of care and confidentiality in mental health referrals, it may help to discuss the guidelines the HIPAA Privacy Rules put in place.

Case Workers and Outpatient Mental Health Referrals

In many cases, teenagers with mental health issues may be more willing to accept treatment in the community rather than in residential care. Case workers often play a role in these outpatient mental health referrals through the following steps.⁴

Making a Judgment on Symptoms and Needs:

After an initial assessment, a case worker may provide feedback on whether a child’s well-being is at risk and if they’re suitable for outpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment doesn’t require overnight supervision or hospitalization – it’s a flexible option for care that can fit into a child’s schedule.

Creating a Document of Recommendations:

To kick start the outpatient treatment process, a case worker can create a document that includes the teen’s symptoms, previous treatments received, and an outline of their treatment recommendations. They will also include the teen’s and their family’s thoughts and wishes for treatment in this document.

Providing Therapy:

As well as helping teenagers find suitable outpatient resources for their needs, case workers may be able to provide short-term therapy for their symptoms. They will also likely continually evaluate a child’s needs and progress throughout the outpatient treatment process.

However, in some cases, a case worker may be concerned for a teen’s well-being or safety, so might make a recommendation for more intensive therapy – residential treatment.

Case Workers: How to Refer a Teen for Residential Care

During an initial assessment, a case worker will consider a child’s emotional and behavioral needs and how impacted their daily functioning and safety are. If they assess that there’s a profound impact on well-being, they can help make arrangements for residential care.

Case workers can assist in residential care by:

1. Creating a Care Plan:

To start the process of residential treatment, a case worker will likely create a provisional care plan that they will share with the child, their family, and a residential treatment center. Additionally, they can help teens and their families understand their rights in residential care, advocating for these and helping to protect their well-being. 5

2. Helping With the Admission Process:

On admission to residential care, a case worker can inform staff of the child’s daily needs, such as requirements for coping with their emotions or medications. This ensures they can settle into care without disruptions and focus on healing.

3. Checking on Progress:

A case worker will also continue to check in on a child’s progress in residential treatment, communicating with mental health professionals and families to support progress. Further, they may make suggestions on additional resources that could benefit the process.

4. Assisting With Discharge:

Finally, when a residential treatment center starts the discharge process, a case worker can ensure that a child’s transition to the community is as seamless as possible. They might make arrangements for outpatient therapies and support groups, doing all they can to promote successful, long-term recovery.

Case Workers and Treatment Options for Children

In some cases, a mental health case worker can provide short-term therapy for teenagers with mental health problems. However, if they’re not licensed, they may be able to make arrangements for teenagers to receive therapy in the community.

Based on their assessment, a case worker will likely discuss therapy options with mental health professionals, as well as teens and families to ensure a collaborative approach is taken.

Depending on a child’s needs, a case worker or mental health professional may discuss the following therapy options.

Therapy Options for Teen Mental Health:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT):

Licensed mental health workers may be trained in CBT. This form of therapy works by targeting teens’ thoughts and actions, identifying negative patterns, and helping them build healthy ways of coping.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR):

Previous experiences, such as trauma, can seriously affect a teen’s mental health. If this is the case for a teen, a care worker may make arrangements for EMDR. EMDR is an effective way of treating trauma as it changes how these memories are stored in the brain, helping a teen move past trauma and form more positive beliefs.

Interpersonal therapy

A teen’s relationships with family members or friends can contribute to mental health difficulties. A case worker may assess for this and suggest interpersonal therapy. This form of therapy can help teens work through these issues and figure out better ways of coping to improve their mental health.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

TMS can be effective in treating treatment-resistant mental health conditions. It’s a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic fields to activate nerve cells in targeted areas of the brain – improving outlook and mood.

Group therapy

Interacting with peers in therapy sessions can help a teen understand that they’re not alone in their experiences, learn healthy ways of coping, and build social support. A case worker can help teens and their families access group therapy as well as support groups.

Each of these therapy options can be delivered as part of outpatient and inpatient treatment programs. Based on their assessment, a case worker can talk to families about the best approach for their needs. Additionally, mental health professionals can also discuss these options and how they can be tailored for unique circumstances.

When to Seek Help in Understanding Mental Health Referrals for Minors

If your child has been allocated a case worker for their mental health needs, you may be feeling confused and concerned about what this might mean. Case workers are familiar with working with children with emotional and behavioral issues, meaning they can take steps to improve their well-being, relationships, and academic performance. If you have questions about a mental health referral, a case worker can help you understand these. However, mental health professionals can also clear up any misunderstandings.

Mission Prep can help. We offer outpatient and residential treatment options for a variety of teen mental health conditions in various locations, tailoring each program to each teen’s unique needs. Our team is familiar with collaborating with case workers and families to make sure that a teen is progressing in treatment and that their opinions are heard. Contact us to learn more.

References

Think Ahead. (n.d.). About mental health social work. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from https://thinkahead.org/our-training-programme/about-mental-health-social-work/
Bunger, A. C., Chuang, E., & McBeath, B. (2012). Facilitating Mental Health Service Use for Caregivers: Referral Strategies among Child Welfare case workers. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(4), 696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.12.014
Cleveland State University. (n.d.). Everything You Need to Know About Mental Health Social Workers. Retrieved March 24, 2025, from https://onlinelearning.csuohio.edu/blog/everything-you-need-know-about-mental-health-social-workers
Auxier, A., Runyan, C., Mullin, D., Mendenhall, T., Young, J., & Kessler, R. (2012). Behavioral health referrals and treatment initiation rates in integrated primary care: A Collaborative Care Research Network study. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 2(3), 337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-012-0141-8
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Children’s Services. (n.d.). Placements in Residential Care. Retrieved March 24, 2025, from https://www.proceduresonline.com/bcp/p_place_resi_care.html

Case Workers and Mental Health: Referring Clients for Residential or Outpatient Care

Case Worker Role in Mental Health Treatment

How Case Workers Refer Clients for Mental Health Care

Steps for Case Workers to Refer Clients for Treatment

Making an Assessment:

Involving Other Adults in the Child’s Care:

Participation in Treatment:

Evaluation and Modification:

Duty of Care and Confidentiality in Mental Health Referrals

Case Workers and Outpatient Mental Health Referrals

Making a Judgment on Symptoms and Needs:

Creating a Document of Recommendations:

Providing Therapy:

Case Workers: How to Refer a Teen for Residential Care

1. Creating a Care Plan:

2. Helping With the Admission Process:

3. Checking on Progress:

4. Assisting With Discharge:

Case Workers and Treatment Options for Children

Therapy Options for Teen Mental Health:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT):

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR):

Interpersonal therapy

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Group therapy

When to Seek Help in Understanding Mental Health Referrals for Minors

References

WE ACCEPT MOST MAJOR INSURANCES

We Also Work With Many Other Insurance Carriers

PLEASE REACH OUT TO VERIFY YOUR BENEFITS

ARE YOU OR A LOVED ONE STRUGGLING

with anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns?

QUICKLINKS

Facilities

What We Treat

What Makes Us Different

Privacy Policy

Phone: 866-845-1391

Email: info@missionprephealthcare.com

Corporate Office: 30310 Rancho Viejo Rd. San Juan Capistrano CA 92675

Copyright 2024 © Mission Prep Healthcare. All Rights Reserved

ARE YOU OR A
LOVED ONE STRUGGLING