Douglas County care navigator praised as program wins national award, helps client secure Social Security benefits

Pam Rohrer, adult care compact navigator in Douglas County's mental health division, described the county's Care Compact program and read a family letter praising the team after their adult child was approved for Social Security benefits.

Rohrer said the Care Compact provides interim case management and coordinates a multi-agency team to support adults with mental health issues, substance use disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities. "The client is like the center of a wheel," she said. "Each of the folks that we put on for the care team are like the spokes of that wheel. I provide interim case management for the individual until we get those care teams established. And then my role is to oversee all those folks. So as a wheel, I am the outer tire and holding everybody close together."

Rohrer said one of the navigator's routine tasks is helping clients apply for public benefits. "One of the things I like to do as the navigator is to assist folks with, obtaining public benefits that they they may be available and approved for," she said. She described working with community partners including mental health providers, benefits offices, food banks and law enforcement to connect clients to services.

Rohrer also described a local food pantry associated with the program and said that on the day of her remarks a single person was receiving food items; she noted donated quilts are available as well. She read from a letter submitted by the family of a former client that praised her work: "We are writing to express our sincere gratitude for Pam's invaluable knowledge, guidance, patience, and ability in order to help our son... He is thriving right now, continuing his treatment, and has been approved and is finally receiving his social security benefits. Bless Pam Rohrer and the Care Compact team."

Rohrer said the Care Compact was recently awarded an achievement award by the National Association of Counties. She described the program as a "collective effort with community partners, from mental health to benefits, to food banks, to law enforcement partners, to all individuals that we may connect with someone."

The remarks outlined the navigator role, the types of partners the program engages and a specific client outcome—approval for Social Security benefits—that the family letter credited to the program's assistance. Rohrer emphasized the client-centered nature of the work and the program's focus on connecting multiple agencies to a single care team.

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