U.S. Army Social Work Care Manager Program: an initial program analysis.

Since the Global War on Terror, the U.S. Army has been transforming to meet national security needs. The transformation includes Army mental health programs serving soldiers and their families. These programs must be relevant to the needs of soldiers and their families and effective at maintaining the force throughout the Global War on Terror. The Army Social Work Care Manager Program was initiated in July 2003 to enhance mental health support for combat veterans and their families. This study provides an initial assessment of this program. A seven-item provider questionnaire was administered to 66 care managers (N=66) to obtain an initial assessment of their utilization and satisfaction. Findings from 33 (n=33) respondents revealed diverse usage across and within installations and modest satisfaction with their jobs. Additionally, the biggest challenges care managers faced were resourcing and supervision. Recommendations for additional research, policy, and practice are provided in this study.