Allen Shaw-MHSS

Mental Health Case Management

Seeing a mental health professional can often help those facing issues affecting

one’s well-being. Jewish Family and Children’s Service has a mental health case

management department that can be of great help to the residents of Hennepin County

struggling with mental health issues. Take the case of Sandy.

Sandy (not her real name) has been diagnosed with major depression since she

was 21 and completing her undergraduate studies at UMD. She began struggling with

her schoolwork, which was normally easy for her. She was getting unbearably home sick

and started getting anxious that something terrible may happen to her family. At the

time, she thought that it was the result of increased stress of finishing college and

working nearly full-time. After extensive therapy in the years that followed and from

conversations with her family, she learned that depression runs in her family and her

maternal great uncle committed suicide when he was 28. After college, Sandy went on

to graduate school and got a degree in accounting. She married and started a family.

Now in her middle 40’s, she is again finding her life full of challenges. She and

her husband divorced last year and she has the custody of their 11 year-old daughter. Her

father passed away four months ago due to complications from Parkinson’s. Her job of

over 10 years is suddenly uncertain since the company was acquired by a large national

firm. Sandy’s depression is back and she has recently contemplated suicidal thoughts,

which scare her a great deal. She again started seeing her therapist but felt that was not

sufficient in addressing her immediate needs. That therapist suggested that in addition to

taking mediation and complementing that with ongoing therapy, she may also benefit

from mental health case management. The therapist let her know that he heard good

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Allen Shaw-MHSS

things about that service offered by JFCS of Minneapolis and suggested she call for

intake.

Sandy called and spoke with Allen Shaw, the MHSS Program Supervisor, at

length. Allen asked her about her current situation, her history of treatment, her

diagnosis and what medication she is taking. That was three months ago. She has been

working with her case manager for over two months now. Together, they prioritized her

needs and are addressing and coordinating her services in the areas of mental health

stability, employment, housing, child support, budgeting and socialization. Sandy feels

she has a new lease on life. Her symptoms are under control. Her job is going well and

secure again. Her relationship with her daughter is “better than ever”. Finally, she feels

she is more on top of her budgeting and bills than ever before.

Mental Health Support Services (MHSS) was started at JFCS over 20 years ago.

This service is available to both Jewish and non-Jewish clients who reside in Hennepin

County. The department has skilled and experienced case managers ready to assist

clients, like Sandy, struggling with chronic severe and persistent mental illness. Though

the central focus for this service is mental illness, we realize that many individuals also

have challenges in other areas in their lives. Case managers take into account the client’s

history and what has been tried before. Their focus though is to help the clients better

manage their current situation and prevent future problems. To accomplish this goal, the

case managers coordinate services with other providers and help advocate for clients’

needs in the areas of finances, housing, transportation, legal issues, disability forms,

employment, socialization and family dynamics among others.

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Allen Shaw-MHSS

In addition to the coordination of concrete services for clients, MHSS offers fun

and recreational activities throughout the year. These activities are often centered around

the Jewish holidays (we just had our Hanukah Party) but are also designed to reduce

clients’ isolation in general.

To find out more about this wonderful and helpful service or to make a referral,

please contact Allen Shaw, MHSS Program Supervisor @ 952 542-4851,

ashaw@jfcsmpls.org.

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