Substance abuse treatment facilities are equipped to help service users with goals directly related to addiction, such as effectively managing symptoms, treating co-occurring psychological disorders, and developing skills to manage triggers and maintain sobriety. However, treatment facilities are not equipped to help service users with all of their goals, which is why making referrals to outside agencies is so important.
Referral agencies can help service users achieve goals that are broader than those addressed at treatment facilities and that pertain to multiple life domains. Examples include finding stable housing, becoming employed, and building a community support system. Once you have identified a particular referral agency that would address a goal, you typically must complete a referral form that provides information to prepare the agency to work with the service user. Before you disclose any information about the service user, you must get their written consent to do so.
In this Discussion, you will propose a referral agency in your community that would help Lea achieve one of the service plan goals you proposed last week. Then, you will explain what you would do to protect her privacy and confidentiality before making the referral and when communicating with the agency. Finally, you will determine what information you would disclose to the agency to help them prepare to work with Lea.
To Prepare:
- Review the Learning Resources about linking through referrals. Consider the different types of referral activities that case managers perform and the variety of referral needs that service users with addiction have.
- Complete the Learning Activity, “Ethical Standards and Laws Relevant to Referrals.” Consider how ethical standards and laws related to privacy and confidentiality apply to making referrals to and communicating with external agencies.
- Re-visit the service plan goals you proposed for Lea last week. Then, select one short- or long-term goal to use for this Discussion.
- Identify an external agency in your community to which you would refer Lea to help her achieve the goal you selected. Also, identify a specific service or program that the agency offers that would help Lea achieve the goal.
- Consider what steps you would take to protect Lea’s privacy and confidentiality before making a referral or while communicating with the agency about her participation and progress.
- Reflect on what information you would share with the agency to help prepare them to work with Lea.
- Post a response to the following:
- Propose an agency in your community that you would refer Lea to in order to help her achieve the goal you selected. What specific service or program does this agency provide that would help her achieve the goal?
- What is one step you would take to protect Lea’s privacy or confidentiality before making a referral and one step you would take while communicating with the agency about her participation and progress? Support your response with applicable ethical standards and laws.
- What is one piece of information, aside from Lea’s name, that you would share with the agency to prepare them to work with her? Assume that she has signed a consent form to release information and that the information you choose to share is listed on that form.
Support your initial post with evidence from scholarly sources and include in-text citations and references in APA style.
Readings:
Linking Through Referrals
- SAMHSA. (2015). TIP 27. Comprehensive case management for substance abuse treatmentLinks to an external site.. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma15-4215.pdf
- Chapter 2, “Applying Case Management to Substance Abuse Treatment” (pp. 13-28)
- Chapter 5, “Case Management for Clients with Special Needs” (p.66-74)
Ethical Standards and Laws Relevant to Referrals
- Walden University, LLC. (2022). Ethical standards and laws relevant to referralsLinks to an external site. [Interactive]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
Case Study
- Walden University, LLC. (2022). Case study: LeaLinks to an external site. [Interactive media]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com