Author Topic: Case Managers taking some heat  (Read 21241 times)

Guru

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Case Managers taking some heat
« on: May 16, 2012, 11:17:11 PM »
Recently there have been a number of articles published and a great deal of media attention put on case managers, their qualifications, their processes, their lack of accountability, and the overall case management process.

A few such articles are posted below:
http://fox4kc.com/2012/05/15/fight-for-daughter-could-change-law-in-kansas/

http://cjonline.com/news/2012-05-15/mother-speaks-case-management-bill#comment-form

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1rMVCzazCClWp20tjeyt-LpX9UOcpXOV2YGC4_h2xKk-1WGVcOjqDEOOsMXSFp9ErswYGDBygPec4q6hL/edit?pli=1

http://www.thelizlibrary.org/site-index/site-index-frame.html#soulhttp://www.thelizlibrary.org/parenting-coordination/parenting-coordination.html


http://www.thelizlibrary.org/site-index/site-index-frame.html#soulhttp://www.thelizlibrary.org/parenting-coordination/parenting-coordination.html

This thread has been opened to discuss some of the issues and solutions surrounding case management.  Many are frustrated with the process and can't seem to find a way out of case management and a bad situation.  This leads to troubled parents and children for many years.
Please offer any issues you see, or solutions you think might help.  There is a storm of motivated parents brewing who have been and will continue to pursue legislation to keep parents from becoming tangled in the legal net.  Your information may help that team create better legislation to address all the issues.
« Last Edit: May 16, 2012, 11:20:29 PM by Guru »

Dad

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Re: Case Managers taking some heat
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2012, 12:37:01 PM »
My wife has a case manager, Tom Griswold.  His behavior has been very troubling since the very beginning.  He has charged she and her ex-husband thousands upon thousands of dollars, threatened more charges if she questioned his accounting/billing, never met with the children, and made ridiculous decisions, etc.  The only way this situation was fixed was working with a great therapist and realizing that at least with Mr. Griswold, the case management process was irrevocably broken.  If you would like specifics she and I would be happy to do so off line.

Thanks,
Dad

Guru

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Re: Case Managers taking some heat
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2012, 02:28:12 PM »
Do you know Tom Griswold's qualifications?  Is he educated in the social sciences or is he an attorney?  I must say, nearly every case I've heard of involving a CM overstepping their bounds has involved an attorney acting as a CM.  I don't think its a very good idea to have an attorney CM because attorneys are taught for years to listen, then reply aggressively, take control of a discussion, maintain the floor, and attempt to push the line every time.  It's also a conflict of interest.  Where a psychologist may spend more time investigating before describing the findings and decision on the matter.  In fact, of the cases I know in which the CM process worked very well, the CM was not a practicing attorney or member of the legal community.

Dad

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Re: Case Managers taking some heat
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2012, 04:23:26 PM »
Mr. Griswold is an attorney and has characteristics congruent with what you describe.  He also charges $250/hr.  Please let me know if you would like further information.  My wife has written a lengthy letter detailing his questionable behaviors but did not know who it should go to.  Though not a CM, the therapist my wife has had great success with is Dr. Christine Hillila.   I have had a lot of success, in my case, with Trina Nudsen (acting as a CM) - who is also an attorney.   We have spoken with another CM who though she works as a mediator for JoCo, she refuses to to CM work in JoCo because she believes their process is broken. 

Guru

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Re: Case Managers taking some heat
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2012, 09:11:58 PM »
Dad,

I believe your letter should be addressed to Art Thompson with the judicial branch, at minimum.  He is the liaison to a committee who is currently reviewing the rules and procedures that CMs must follow.  Art can review your complaint, but I know another man who has gone so far as to drive to Topeka to have a meeting with Art regarding such complaints.  The issue went nowhere.

The reason these complaints fall on deaf ears is because there are no checks and balances in place to ensure CMs conduct remains neutral, legal, and within the scope of their assignment.  No one is accountable, which I think is the main reason CM is failing.  I think the idea of it has merit, but the practical execution of the program is too lax.

Anyhow, if your wife spent a great deal of time writing the letter, I believe her letter should be delivered to Art as well as every one of the supreme court judges.  The supreme court is ultimately responsible for all of this because they, by KS statute, oversee the CM program.  More people need to step forward with their complaints so it can be crystal clear that things need to change.  We all appreciate your wife taking the time to tell about your experience.

Guru

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Re: Case Managers taking some heat
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2012, 09:26:43 PM »
I will add - ultimately the fix for the CM program will not come through even more "guidelines" which are treated as quasi-law.  The fix will come through new legislation which forces certain aspects of CM.  Recently some new legislation was passed which deals with the qualifications of the CM, but it wasn't very clear and didn't really fix anything.  I think it may be well worth your time to send the letter to legislators as well as a man named Chris Brown at browncontract@hotmail.com.  Chris is just one of many who is working with legislators currently to change the laws to build a better framework for CM.  Likewise, I can pass the letter on through this site if you like.

KTM

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Re: Case Managers taking some heat
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2012, 10:25:18 AM »
Case Managers with a Social Worker or Psychologist background are more easily manipulated by the parties Legal Counsel.

Attorneys are bound with ethical obligations to the Court and if found to be lying to the Court can loose their license.

Social Workers and Psychologists are not bound with ethical obligations to the Court so there are no consequences for errors or misleading statements.

Complaints about Mr. Griswold or any other attorney would be best directed to:

Kansas Disciplinary Administrator's Office handles complaints about lawyers in Kansas. To file a complaint about a lawyer in Kansas: www.kscourts.org/attydisc/

Lawyer Complaint Mailing Address
Kansas Disciplinary Administrator's Office
701 SW Jackson
Topeka, KS 66603

Telephone
785-296-2486
Kansas Lawyer Complaints