Introduction Special populations are those that are in some way unable to meet his or her needs. The role as case manager can be a very diverse one, but is one that ultimately aimed at helping people to be equipped and come in contact with the necessary resources that allows for adequate assimilation into society. Resources and Populations Reviewed There were a variety of online resources available that covered issues such as certification, information, links to other sites and search engines for available resources by location. The wide array of information gives the case manager a start at providing assistance in a much greater scope to meet client needs. Casemanager.com and Case Manager Resource Guide help specifically with the work of the case manager in providing clients’ resources. The populations that were reviewed primarily include behavioral health, disease management and welfare reform. Welfare reform encompasses the management of welfare and low income families. The aim is to develop evaluation plans and assess the effects on the government. On the part of the client, the aim is to help them to attain skills that will improve their self-esteem and ability to be financially self-sufficient. Disease Management includes teaching and sharing of information with clients and family members that will help them to understand and better control their conditions. The client is encouraged to make lifestyle changes to be able to stay healthy and improve life. Behavioral health deals with clients with mental health issues or substance abuse. It can encompass family conflict, productivity and homelessness. My Contribution to my Special Population After reviewing the populations, Disease Management appeals the most with the main focus directly on health issues. Though disease management focuses mostly on chronic conditions, it can also be considered a means of prophylaxis in that the education that goes along with the process helps in reducing the occurrence or severity of conditions through awareness. This in turn decreases the cost that is associated with health care and treatment of chronic illnesses. In Belize, the leading cause of death is HIV followed closely by HIV and hypertensive conditions. There are agencies such as Alliance against Aids, Diabetes Association and several government funded initiatives such as VCT clinic which provides support and aid to affected people. There is, however, a stigma attached to visiting these places because the culture sees anyone who visits these agencies primarily as patients then as volunteers. No person wants to be seen as a patient, even the diabetics. The impression that no one wants to be seen as begging or sick and vulnerable is prevalent. The need for further public education is very evident and with the background I would bring, and the comfort I feel with teaching, my contribution would be immense given the resources. Currently, education is done in small groups and person to person meetings but major activities are left to the formal organizations. How Case Management Helps Case Management helps with disease management because it provides a framework though which people can be assisted in identifying needs and meeting those needs. People can be guided toward self-care and self-management through practices that are developed or taught and this will help them to improve upon their lives. Improvement can be achieved through improving the function in the family and society, improving self-esteem and self-care practices, which in turn, lengthens lifespan. Limitations and Strengths There is much strength that I would bring to disease management in Belize. Some of them include the nursing experience and patient contact that has been developed and achieved over the years while doing bedside nursing. Many people have great respect for nurses in Belize and that puts us at an advantage because we can simply note an observation and no one would be offended is we commented on the issue. Limitations as is traditional would include financing. There needs to be a startup and associated activities such as staffing. The most effective manner in which disease management can be done is through the Ministry of Health. There are many people to contact and red tape to cross in affecting the matter through the government. The great need for services does incline one to start small and with perseverance and support, a private initiative can become a national effort. Multicultural Issues The melting pot of cultures presents an array of multicultural issues to come in contact with. There are cultures that do not believe in pharmaceutical medicine and prefer traditional medicine. A compromise has to be met in many instances and with much effort to instill upon the client the need for with medication. Language has to be one of the biggest issues as it not only deals with language of the tongue but also that of the body. There are times when a client may not be complying because they do not understand the instructions, the instructions were given to the wrong person, or the necessary action may be translated as being weak in the eyes of family and peers. There are times when the provider needs to learn more about the person and the culture before the decision for action or intervention is taken because it may be the determining factor of success of the entire process. Conclusion Special populations require love attention and patience. With changing times there has been a need to address the needs of populations such as the elderly, the very young and those with physical and mental disabilities. Due to changes in family structure and function, political ideologies, improvement in medical knowledge and economic pressures, an array of distinct client need has been developed and the human service profession has had to adapt to meet the needs (Rothman and Sager, 1998). It is in meeting these needs the case manager has evolved into a multifaceted instrument of providing knowledge and resources to clients. References Rothman, Jack and Sager, Jon, 1998 Case Management: Integrating Individual and Community Practice Allyn & Bacon, A Pearson Education Company ISBN: 0205265685