Introduction
I chose to write about the position of a youth case manager since my knowledge can be efficiently applied for the betterment of people’s lives through this job. A case manager must help young criminals to reintegrate into society by connecting them with necessary services, such as family counselors, attorneys, social workers, and other required institutions (“Case manager,” 2022). My education can serve as a significant boost to my performance in such a position. This paper will analyze how the competencies that a degree in psychology provides can help me to succeed in this occupation.
Case Manager Profession
A juvenile case worker has to keep in contact with many other social services and utilize their aid depending on the specifics of a case. Moreover, this specialist must personally connect with each client and their relatives to coordinate efforts in assisting a young criminal in stepping away from such a dangerous path. This position requires high communication skills and an understanding of people’s motivations for criminal behavior and how to help them discontinue it. In addition to supporting a person in dealing with their issues with the law, a case manager must conduct personal meetings to analyze the shifts in a delinquent’s behavior (“Case manager,” 2022). A case manager is responsible for guiding a young delinquent through all rehabilitation processes and documenting their journey.
Correcting one’s behavior requires a thorough understanding of their personality. With a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, I believe I can successfully assess one’s character and discover the reasons behind their behavior. My decisions will determine the future of the youth that has the potential to become a better person, and my recommendations on necessary services, activities, and possible detentions can increase this chance. As a psychologist, I must understand how incarceration and alternative sentencing options will affect an individual’s life and choose the best path for them. My knowledge can help me with realizing the possibility of utilizing a criminal’s family or public social services in their rehabilitation and how incarceration can reflect on their future.
The DSM-5 and other assessment instruments can be utilized in this occupation to determine the levels of emotional distress, depression, anger, substance use, and other causes of criminal behavior in an individual. As a juvenile case manager, my tasks will require a swift determination of available options for a delinquent that can efficiently help them with reintegration into society (“Case manager,” 2022). DSM-5 gives accurate measures of a patient’s mental state, which can allow determining necessary actions with great precision. Moreover, there are different programs often available to young delinquents which have case-specific intervention tools, such as mental issues management, family counseling, and other services (Vrouvas, 2022). DSM-5 and similar assessment tools, such as PsycTESTS, are essential in making critical decisions in a short time span.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a psychologist has a great potential to find an individualized approach to each individual who was put into the criminal justice system at a young age. The selected position gives a person with the proper knowledge an opportunity to help people with changing their lives for the better. Psychologists can successfully identify underlying causes, connect with their clients, and create empathetic links necessary to ensuring positive outcomes. In addition to my knowledge base, the usage of DSM-5 can provide me with a set of instruments for a quick assessment of a person’s mental state to uncover their reasons for turning to crime.
References
Case manager. (2022). Southwest Key Programs. Web.
Vrouvas, M. (2022). Job description for juvenile case managers. Chron.