Erin Breen

I was hired in December of 2021, 6 months pregnant, for a clinical position as a CASAC-T. Before I went on maternity leave, I was asked to consider taking a new position as the Managed Care Coordinator upon return. I accepted the position and was given 5 days of training before becoming solely responsible for each of our detox (816) and rehab (818) patients. Some of my responsibilities as the Managed Care Coordinator were as follows:

• to facilitate communications between the medical & nursing team, Managed Medicaid and Medicare providers, clinical staff, and patients.
• to ensure medical services were properly authorized and regulatory guidelines were followed.
• to maintain patients' confidentiality and quality care
• to complete LOCADTR7 for each rehab patient between days 5-7 of treatment
• complete extended day review LOCADTR for patients

In seeking a new life for myself and that of my daughter, I have chosen to work with other addicted men and women. I wish to continue meaningful work in addiction recovery as a CASAC 2. I hope to bring my knowledge of case management and pair it with supportive colleagues, supervisors and other mentors. My personal survival in recovery allows me to better understand, support and motivate the hope and the success of others. I have received a scholarship through OASAS and am currently attending SUNY Empire University studying to get my BS in Addiction Studies, which a long-term goal of getting a Masters in Social Work. My job responsibilities were:

• to develop and implement comprehensive case management addressing patients immediate needs and goals.
• to assist patients in navigating aftercare, whether it be outpatient, IOP, long-term residential, halfway or 3/4 home, or preparation to return to their residence or SRO.
• to encourage use of patients local community services and public benefits to gain access to valuable resources.
• to monitor patients' progress by offering immediate crisis intervention if necessary
• to develop comprehensive treatment plans, short and long term goals, relapse prevention plans, and discharge plans, transitioning patients to appropriate service providers in their community.
• to provided evidence-based therapeutic interventions and crisis management to patients to lessen negative physical, mental and emotional self-image and wellbeing.
• to develop and implement safety plans for clients at risk of harming themselves or others, essentially providing protection in our community.
• to utilized trauma-informed training promoting healing and empowerment for patients
• to facilitate individual and group sessions to promote positive behavior change for patients

As a CASAC-T at the Stabilization Center my position was to meet with anyone who came in looking for any substance use disorder care. Some of my job responsibilities were:

• to use skills such as active listening, motivational interviewing and collaborative problem-solving to connect with patients and address their concerns.
• to document risk to each client and context of concerns.
• to evaluate risk to client or others by gathering information and conducting assessments.
• to build safety plans with intention of lowering immediate risk of crisis, SI/HI, in the community and when necessary, intervened in specific manners outlined by our facilities protocols and procedures.
• to converse with individuals in crisis which called, come in person, or were transferred from Mobile Crisis for assistance