Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for case management specialists in the United States
Case management specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected case management specialist job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for case management specialists are projected over the next decade.
Case management specialist salaries have increased 13% for case management specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,387 case management specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 153,985 active case management specialist job openings in the US.
The average case management specialist salary is $41,553.
Are case management specialist jobs in demand?
Case management specialist job and salary trends over time
Case management specialist jobs over time
Case management specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,387 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,404 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,454 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,320 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,229 | 0.00% |
Average case management specialist salary over time
Case management specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,553 | $19.98 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $40,513 | $19.48 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $38,999 | $18.75 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $38,271 | $18.40 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $36,757 | $17.67 | +3.2% |
Case management specialist jobs by state
Most common states for case management specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 330 | 48% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,403 | 35% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 198 | 34% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 247 | 33% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 865 | 28% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 269 | 28% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,326 | 27% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 285 | 27% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 166 | 27% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,950 | 26% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 813 | 26% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,483 | 25% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 192 | 25% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 975 | 24% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 463 | 24% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 320 | 24% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 319 | 24% |
| 18 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 208 | 24% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,607 | 23% |
| 20 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,241 | 22% |
Most common cities for case management specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Myers | 2 | 3% | $38,819 |
| 2 | Bangor | 1 | 3% | $33,202 |
| 3 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $39,087 |
| 4 | Fairbanks | 1 | 3% | $37,155 |
| 5 | Fort Wayne | 5 | 2% | $34,918 |
| 6 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $37,674 |
| 7 | Bowling Green | 1 | 2% | $32,429 |
| 8 | Mobile | 2 | 1% | $37,878 |
| 9 | Springfield | 2 | 1% | $41,025 |
| 10 | Tampa | 2 | 1% | $38,120 |
| 11 | Worcester | 2 | 1% | $40,260 |
| 12 | Berkeley | 1 | 1% | $70,537 |
| 13 | Duluth | 1 | 1% | $37,222 |
| 14 | Grand Rapids | 1 | 1% | $37,344 |
| 15 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $66,888 |
| 16 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $34,424 |
| 17 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $43,014 |
| 18 | Columbus | 1 | 0% | $33,083 |
Case Management Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of case management specialist experts
Ohio State University
Baruch College of the City University of New York
University of Indianapolis
Campbellsville University
Virginia Wesleyan University
Pennsylvania State University
Siena College
Nazareth College of Rochester
Nebraska Christian College
Kennesaw State University
Azusa Pacific University
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: Most people find social work to be incredibly rewarding, knowing that you are a facilitator of positive change, whether be within an individual, organization, or at a larger community or societal level. For many, being able to help people reach their full capacity is fulfilling. The amount of documentation we must complete in clinical settings is often what is liked the least.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: The need for social workers is high, particularly after the pandemic. A shortage of social workers means that there's an increasing demand in the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics social work jobs are expected to increase 13% between 2020 and 2030.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: For clinical positions, which is what most social workers do, daily tasks typically include conducting assessments and providing individual, family, and/or group therapy to children and/or adults, while collaborating with other providers working with the client. There is also daily clinical documentation that needs to be completed.
Deanna Wilkinson Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorOhio State University
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Deanna Wilkinson Ph.D.: My advice to HDFS graduates beginning their careers is to seek out opportunities that align with your passions and will allow you to utilize your academic knowledge and skills to help children and families in meaningful ways.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Timothy Aubry: I don’t think people should try to maximize their salary potential. I think graduates should find a salary they can live on and prioritize finding a fulfilling job. If their primary concern is money, they are seeing the job as a means to something else, and the money itself is just a means to some other kind of satisfaction. They’ll be unhappy at work and try to make up for it by buying things they probably won’t have any time to enjoy—justifying the miserable job they have. I’d suggest finding a job that is not just a means to an end, but that allows you to feel happy while you are working, fulfilled in what you are doing. In that kind of situation, as long as you can pay the bills, you won’t care as much whether you’re making more than your neighbors and your friends, since you won’t be measuring the value of your life by how much money you make.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Nancy Kelley PhD: The next 3-5 years may see some changes that will require certain skills to be even more important and prevalent in social work practice than ever before. One of the most pressing challenges social workers are currently facing is the extremely contentious political environment of the United States and the direct impact that has on equity and justice issues that have always been at the root of all social work efforts. The divisiveness that has been exacerbated in this country over the past several years has stifled social welfare policy efforts and has threatened social work education to effectively address longstanding and emerging social issues. Social workers will need to be especially adept at negotiating conflict embedded in divisive concepts and highly skilled to effect legislative change. This, combined with other unprecedented demographic and cultural changes, such as the aging of our population, increased cultural diversity and intersectionality within the U.S. population, and health and mental health crises, including illicit drug and addiction epidemics, make for extremely complex cases of vulnerable populations social workers serve. The level of knowledge and skill social workers must acquire and activate simultaneously, including trauma-informed approaches to be used cross-culturally, is immense. Another major need for advanced social work skills is with regard to the environment, including the effects of climate change on human conditions, and environmental justice. Some of these significant changes to the landscape of social work practice will force social workers to beef up their interprofessional and macro-practice skills. Lastly, I think the great unknown is related to technology--how to manage the digital ethics at the speed of technological advances will be essential to the field of social work.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Lynell Cooper MSW, LCSW: Learn to negotiate effectively for salaries and consulting fees. Understanding your value and being able to articulate it convincingly can significantly impact your income.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lynell Cooper MSW, LCSW: Being empathetic will enhance your ability to connect with clients, while resilience will help you manage emotional stress effectively. Fostering a lens of cultural humility will serve as a conduit to success and effectiveness.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Lynell Cooper MSW, LCSW: Social workers will need to collaborate across different fields such as healthcare, education, and legal services. Skills in teamwork, communication, and coordination will be essential. Social workers should envision themselves as an asset in every business sector.
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW
Associate Professor of Social WorkCampbellsville University
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: Social Work is a very large field; therefore, the practice of Social Work varies greatly depending on which field you enter. Overall, nearly all areas of Social Work include working with individuals who are facing some form of crisis or life challenge. Social Workers work to assist in providing education, assistance and most importantly empowerment. Social Workers are trained professionals who work from a set of ethics that govern their professional standards to respect, empathize and value all individuals. Most all Social Workers enter the professional because they feel called to assist and make a difference in the life of others.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: The best thing about being a Social Worker is the ability to serve, assist and empower other individuals who are facing challenges within their life. Although this can be very overwhelming, at times the rewards this can provide, and self-fulfillment is hard to put into words. One of the greatest challenges of Social Work is maintaining adequate self-care and knowing that you can impact or help all individuals. This can be extremely challenging and overwhelming, particularly for new workers. One must ensure that they have adequate supervision, education, and resources to protect their wellbeing or burnout is highly likely.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: Social Workers are needed everywhere as there are always people in crisis. Currently, child protection workers are desperately needed. In this field of practice Social Workers work directly with children and families that are impacted by child maltreatment issues to keep families together. There is a misconception that child protective workers strive to remove children, and this is untrue. Their mission is to work tirelessly to keep children in their homes safely and remove risk factors while highlighting their protective factors. Additionally, in this field of Social Work foster parents are trained, certified, and mentored to ensure that foster children receive adequate care when biological or relative care is not possible.
Dr. Jennifer Slivka
Associate Professor of EnglishVirginia Wesleyan University
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Dr. Jennifer Slivka: Before you graduate, complete at least one internship in the field. These internships can often lead to full-time positions, especially in the non-profit sector. The more experience you have, the more you can negotiate in terms of salary.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jennifer Slivka: Be open-minded, flexible, and patient. Our recent GWSS graduates secure jobs in a number of related fields that might not spring to mind when new graduates think of GWSS careers (e.g., political campaigns/staff, higher education, non-profits, law, publishing, business, and even sexual assault prevention and victim advocacy for the Navy). These are in addition to more traditionally associated GWSS careers, such as domestic abuse and trafficking shelters for women and children, LGBTQ+ outreach services, and counseling centers. As with most first jobs in the field, you need to think of them as learning experiences that can enhance the knowledge and skills you learned in college, while also providing you the necessary professional experience to move forward in the field.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jennifer Slivka: Because of its interdisciplinary nature, Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies already offers students diverse perspectives that prepare them for the multi-faceted, complex viewpoints they will encounter in graduate study and in the workplace. In particular, soft skills will become even more important. These skills include communication, critical thinking and problem solving, empathy, collaboration, community-building, leadership, and adaptability. The field is dynamic, so being able to continue to learn and grow after graduation is a necessity.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. J. Lendrum PhD: It will become increasingly important to use non-violent communication skills and empathy that you practiced and developed in your academic programs. As the world becomes more diverse, tapping into the cultural competency skills will also become increasingly useful.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. J. Lendrum PhD: Trust yourself and follow your passions. It is possible to find a meaningful career that aligns with your core interests and values.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
James Andrews LCSW, LICSW, BCD: Although most people have very varied and complex reasons for entering the field of social work, we all have bills to pay. Therefore, the ability to maximize one’s salary potential is critical and involves strategic planning and negotiation. The first couple of jobs one holds can have tremendous influence on subsequent career trajectory. In my view, the most important thing to understand in a job search and the interview process it involves is this: You are interviewing those who are hiring at least as much, if not more, than they are interviewing you. It is critical to understand this point: You are interviewing the agency or company to determine if it is a place you wish to associate with and work. This may seem counterintuitive as the whole point of the job interview is to convince an employer you are the right person for the job. Yet, their interview of you as a candidate is actually secondary to your decision that the agency is a place where you wish to exchange your time and talents for income. Secondly, negotiate confidently. When offered a job, negotiate your salary (and other benefits and perks) and do not hesitate to ask for what you want. You should be prepared with data to support your request and be willing to discuss benefits and other compensation options like bonuses, stock options, or professional development opportunities. Do your homework! Come prepared understanding the typical salary range for the position and location. Websites like Glassdoor and Payscale can provide valuable insights. Knowing your worth and ask for it! A former professor of mine taught me that the only question to which absolutely know the answer to is the question you never ask; that answer is always no. Other actions the new graduate should engage in is to highlight what makes you unique as a person and has a job candidate. Emphasize unique skills, experiences, and achievements that set you apart from other candidates. This could include internships, certifications, or successful projects. Pursuing and obtaining certifications that are highly regarded in social work can make you more attractive to employers and justify a higher salary, such as certification and training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These strategies and tactics are not exhaustive. However, their implementation in one’s job search can position you for a successful and rewarding career, maximizing both your professional growth and earning potential.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
James Andrews LCSW, LICSW, BCD: It is always dangerous to attempt to predict the future; even as little as 3-5 years. However, there are a few skills sets and knowledge areas I would recommend new graduates consciously focus upon for development. First and foremost, I would identify digital literacy and cybersecurity knowledge as critical over the next five years. The recent pandemic had at least one positive outcome: it accelerated and propelled society’s acceptance of virtual platforms and environments across multiple industries. And social work is no exception. Developing proficiency with digital tools and platforms including an understanding of cybersecurity, social media and telehealth technologies will be critical for new social workers. It may surprise some folks to hear this, but such proficiency extends to data analysis and interpretation. I’m not saying social workers need to learn computer programming. However, the rapid emergence of various types of artificial intelligence to assist and enhance people’s ability to analyze and make sense of data will only become increasingly important. Skills and knowledge in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence as they apply to clinical services will be highly sought after. Another area I see as becoming increasingly important over the next five years is the cultivation of interdisciplinary knowledge and practice. The combining of expertise from multiple fields can lead to innovative solutions. This involves one’s own knowledge as well as the ability to foster cross-disciplinary relationships and collaborations. For example, knowledge in both technology and business management can give one an edge in pursuing leadership roles that require strategic decision-making.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
James Andrews LCSW, LICSW, BCD: Completing the MSW and graduating as a professional social worker is exciting and can be overwhelming. There are some general areas of professional development that I would strongly recommend new social workers entering the workforce focus on addressing. The first (and in many ways perhaps the most important) is to actively network. Connect with peers and mentors by building and maintaining professional relationships through joining professional organizations and attending industry events such as conferences and other professional events. Join your state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and become active; don’t just pay your dues every year. Contact the chapter office and volunteer for a committee and run for a volunteer leadership position. Get involved! Next, be adaptable! If the social service field is characterized by any one quality, it is change. Cultivating the ability to grow, adapt to new technologies, methodologies, and work environments will be crucial to one’s career success. Not only does the quality of flexibility makes one a valuable employee and prepares you for unexpected challenges and opportunities, but it is also a central trait needed for those who desire to open their own clinical practices one day. Related to adaptability is the practice of continuous learning. Social work and the larger industry of social services ever evolving, so it is imperative that new graduates embrace the idea that even though they have graduated, they must always be students, ever learning and developing new skills. This involves a commitment to lifelong learning which involves pursuing certifications, workshops attendance, and staying updated with the latest industry trends and technologies through independent reading and research. This not only keeps your skills relevant but also demonstrates your commitment to professional growth. And finally, and too often ignored, is the importance of developing and cultivating what are called “soft skills”. Skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management a(and others) are essential. For the successful social worker. Such soft skills complement one’s technical abilities and are highly valued by employers. And in many ways are what will enable a person to advance in their career.
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW
Associate Professor of Social Work, Department Chair & Program DirectorSiena College
Social Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the need for social workers will grow faster than many other professions, which means finding employment upon graduation will not be a problem.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW: Social workers are committed to creating a more socially just world through social change. People who are invested in helping others find social work values resonate and pursue their careers with passion. That said, social work is a demanding profession, and it is important to take care of yourself so you can stay committed to the work without burning out.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW: The beauty of the social work profession is that the skills you learn from your degree can be applied in a range of settings and populations. Depending on your interest, you could be working with children, youth, adults, older adults, or in an area of interest like domestic violence, homelessness, child welfare, gerontology. The work you do could be one-on-one, with small groups, running programs within an organization, and/or working in communities.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Erin Cole DSW, LCSW: There is a phrase that sometimes comes out in social work that we are "in it for the outcome, not for the income." This is true but also, we deserve a livable wage. I already see graduates starting at higher salaries so I think this is trending in the right direction. With that said, I think the best way to maximize salary potential is to build your resume with trainings and certifications, beyond the degree, to show that you have something extra to offer compared to another new graduate. There are so many courses available online to get certified in specific interventions.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Erin Cole DSW, LCSW: When you're looking for jobs, don't look for a forever job. Find something that seems like a good fit right now. The pressure for it to be forever is too much. Do it for as long as it feels right and move on when it doesn't. Also, remember that being a new graduate is an asset! You are more current on trends in social work, literature, and evidence-based practices than many seasoned professionals. You add value to the setting and should not minimize that by falling back on being new in the field.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Erin Cole DSW, LCSW: Understanding trauma has become a necessary and foundational skill in social work. This is going to continue being important and we will continue working with more and more people who have trauma histories. Practitioners need evidence-based interventions for trauma that include cultural and identity affirming components. With so little research in this area, I suspect a skill that will become important is the ability to adapt evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of the individual being served while maintaining the initial integrity of the intervention.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Dr. Dexter Voisin: Social work is a diverse profession, and social workers engage in a wide variety of roles from clinicians, policy analysts, community workers, advocates, child welfare workers, mental health counselors, and many others.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Dexter Voisin: There is a robust demand for social workers, and it is one of the fastest-growing professions in the country. Many states are not able to fill the growing demand for social workers to respond to the growing demand for mental health and substance abuse counselors.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Dexter Voisin: I think there is a lot of misinformation about what is social work. Many persons have a very narrow view of social workers that they remove children from homes as “baby snatchers” or work with income assistance. However, social work is much broader than these roles.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Cynthia Peters MSW: When people hear the word social worker, they immediately think about the folks that take children from their families due to some report of abuse. They have a tendency to immediately not like what they think is social work. Social Work is so much more than working for DCS. What I like about Social Work is that there are so many jobs/careers you can walk into and utilize the skill you learned about the profession. Your job title does not need to be Social Worker. I know a social worker that is the Director of Public Works; Recreation Coordinator; Minister; Assistant to in the Governor's Office; Victim Advocate; Management Assistant; Council person; Governor; Senator. The sky is the limit to what career or job a social worker can do.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Cynthia Peters MSW: It is a good profession to enter now, due to the need for social workers in some of the jobs that I mentioned in the previous question. Social Workers can provide a different perspective on service delivery. Meeting the clients where they are at; developing relationships with the community; advocating for client services; writing grants; monitoring grants; brokering services......
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Cynthia Peters MSW: Social Work is a profession that can be in many places: hospital, university, government agencies, fire departments, court systems, homeless shelters, behavioral health facilities, schools, private practices, non-profit agencies, hospice care, senior programs, just to name a few. So depending on where a social workers find a job will determine what they do on a day to day basis.
Christine Kiewra
Associate Professor of PracticeNebraska Christian College
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Christine Kiewra: The HDFS program is a flexible degree that offers the “human” element that is necessary but often missing from pre-health and pre-law tracks. The flexibility also allows for students to double major and broaden their learning outcomes.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christine Kiewra: This profession includes information that everyone needs to be a functioning adult in society (family finance, human development, close relationships).
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Christine Kiewra: Human Development Specialists have many options including specializing in working with young children, families, and elderly clients. Specialists can pursue working in large or small businesses, non-profit agencies, education, or government agencies.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Cindy Snell: Be able to articulate the skills and experience you have that are relevant to the jobs you are seeking - tell your story! Learn another language than English. Negotiate your hiring terms. Learn about loan forgiveness options.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Cindy Snell: Your first job out of school is not often your “dream job”. Consider it as an important step in your career journey. Evaluate job offers holistically, including salary & benefits, skill building, moving towards advanced licensure, good supervision and office culture. There are many ways to contribute to the field of social work. You will find your way on the way. Create a support network. This can include friends to have fun with, social work classmates to form a peer advising group, a mentor to help you chart your career path. Create your self-care strategy and stick with it. Bring joy, reduce stress, step away. Use continuing education requirements to advance your career.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Cindy Snell: Working effectively with diverse populations. This includes knowing your own biases, speaking another language, and continually striving for cultural competence. Openness to learning/integrating new technologies and careful consideration of their impact on the services you provide clients. These could include telehealth, record keeping, and the use of AI. Advocacy. Social workers need to advocate for their clients but also for policies that affect their clients and the field of social work. Social workers also need to remember to advocate for themselves and know this is not selfish but often allows them to be more effective social workers.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Camille Coleman: Do your research within the state and or country, and or agency you are seeking potential employment. Look up the laws, compare them to other states, don't be afraid to look at all careers within the social work field, for example research in social work gets overlooked, facilitation, curriculum development, etc. Future social workers should seek reciprocity in multiple states to practice counseling services after obtaining one's licensure, if wanting to provide therapeutic services. This will give one leverage to negotiate higher salary requests.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Camille Coleman: The advice I would give is remember you are in the People serving field not 'helping' from your definition. The individuals you are honored to provide social services too are the experts in their life you are to support, guide, and provide case specific resources to those individuals.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Camille Coleman: Organizational management is a more necessary prevalent skill due to the importance of documentation and the advancement of telehealth services. Learning multiple EHR (electronic health records) systems as well as being proactive in knowing the laws as it pertains to provide therapeutic services within multiple states.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Dr. Aimée Vadnais Psy.D, LMFT: Keep in touch with your professors and classmates. They will be able to provide you with letters of recommendations in the future, connect you with job leads, and can make introductions to you to people in the field. Keep your resume current with any trainings or seminars that you attend and include additional certifications you obtain. Keep educating yourself by taking continuing education to learn more about certain topics, theories, interventions, or populations you are interested in learning more about. Network through CAMFT or AAMFT by attending their local chapter events, where you can meet others in the field in your area. Lastly, create a Linked In page so you can advertise about yourself and form local connections with others in your field.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Aimée Vadnais Psy.D, LMFT: With the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, careers with the geriatric population are/will continue to be in high demand. Family education surrounding geriatric mental health is key, as well as providing caregiver support to those family members who are caring for aging loved ones. Issues related to kids and teens post-COVID-19 pandemic may still be prevalent in the next couple of years, specifically around socialization, face-to-face communication, and self-esteem. The impact of AI on people, business, and society in general is an area to pay attention to in the years ahead.
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Aimée Vadnais Psy.D, LMFT: Research the going rates in your industry and ask colleagues to have a good idea. Recognize your worth and advocate for yourself during pay discussions. Highlight unique skill sets that may be valuable to the agency. Provide free education nights to benefit the community, potentially leading to clients. Find a niche population you enjoy working with and market your services specifically to this area.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Andrew Schoolnik: Saying 'yes' to as many challenges and tasks as possible. The accumulation of these experiences will create new opportunities and the cumulation of myriad opportunities is central to career advancement. The 2021 revision to the Social Work Code of Ethics includes the importance of self-care, and saying 'yes' must be balanced with this.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Andrew Schoolnik: Dialogue and compromise. There are many apparatuses in today's society which are designed to pull people apart. Cable news and online news sites are famous examples of this. Add to this the echo chambers of social media where people largely associate with like-minded people while looking negatively at those with a different world view. This silo-ing of society is the antithesis of dialogue and compromise. Instead, it creates a class system of those who agree (the favored class) and those who disagree (the unfavored class).
On a macro level, the more the social worker dialogues with all stakeholders (those in favor and those opposed) the more that person gains knowledge and goodwill. This is at the heart of compromise - winning being defined as doing the most good for the most people.
On a clinical level, social workers work mutually with their clients. Learning about a client's values begins with dialogue (even when our values are different) and creating treatment plans is often-based on compromise (agency policy/goals, and client goals).
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Andrew Schoolnik: Education does not end with graduation but instead continues in one's first several years of social work practice (and ideally for a lifetime); therefore, it is very important to find employment with an excellent supervisor. Whether doing formal weekly supervision, or just having an ear to share ideas and gain support, having a supervisor who is knowledgeable, available, and caring is critical to the success of a newly-graduated social worker.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Alexis Henderson M.S., OTR/L, CLT, OCC: Learning how to incorporate and utilize AI and other technologies in human professions while ensuring we keep the human touch is going to be very prevalent. Having a good understanding of technology as well as the human experience and being able to incorporate both into your work will be priceless.
What Case Management Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexis Henderson M.S., OTR/L, CLT, OCC: Never take the first salary offer but also do not get hung up on salary right out of the gate. Remember that helping professions are about more than money. Take every single continuing education and training opportunity that comes your way or that you can find. Training and becoming a master at your craft is how you increase your salary most productively!
What will help Case Management Specialists increase their earning potential?
Alexis Henderson M.S., OTR/L, CLT, OCC: My advice to new graduates would be three-fold: First, take everything in stride. You cannot know what you do not know so do not feel embarrassed or incompetent if there is knowledge you are lacking. Most education in human service truly is acquired on the job. Never be afraid to ask questions and never let anyone make you feel inferior for needing to ask a question. Remember, you are working with human lives and therefore you would much rather ask the question and be safe than hurt someone. Second, work to separate work and personal life. It is so easy to come out of school and into the human profession field and want to fix everyone and everything. This is wonderful but also remember that your job is not your entire identity. There has to be some boundaries and separation, or burnout will be inevitable. Lastly, remember that your attitude dictates your experience. If you approach your work with kindness, gratitude, openness, and dedication it will take you so much farther in life. Challenging patients/clients are usually those who need help the most, so extend them a little extra kindness and grace. Your boss has a job to do, just like you, so ensure you stand up for what you need but also remember that them doing their job is not a personal attack.
What general advice would you give to a Case Management Specialist?
Nicole Willis Ph.D., LMSW: Maximizing your salary first starts with doing the groundwork in the junior and senior year of the Social Work program. You'll want to have a strong and competitive professional resume that show how you stand-out from the other job seekers. The second phase is during the entry-level job interview phase. Best advice I ever received about salary is to NOT accept the first salary offered right away. Let your potential employer know that you'd like a day or two to think about the offer. During those two days, do your homework. Find out what is the average pay for like positions there and in other organizations. Talk with mentors you have within your professional network to get their thoughts on your offer. Don't be afraid to negotiate salary or negotiate the possibility that the potential employer would include paying for you to participate in a conference every year so you can earn the CEUs you need to maintain your Social Work license. In Social Work, we utilize great humility when working with clients and client systems. However, when in the office interviewing and considering that salary offer, put that humility aside for a while and think like a business person.