Which action illustrates advocacy in case management?

• A. Identifying and challenging systemic barriers that limit access to care.
• B. Strictly following agency protocols without exception.
• C. Focusing only on individual treatment without system involvement.
• D. Delaying discharge to conserve resources.

Answer: (A)

Advocacy in case management means actively working to remove barriers and push for changes in policies, systems, and practices that limit a client’s access to services and opportunities. Identifying and challenging systemic barriers that limit access to care fits this, because it targets the larger structures—like eligibility rules, transportation, waitlists, and service coordination—that shape whether someone can actually get help. It often involves collaborating with agencies, community organizations, and policymakers to create or expand pathways to needed services, not just helping the individual in a single moment.

Following agency protocols without exception focuses on internal rules rather than changing access or outcomes for clients. Concentrating only on individual treatment without system involvement misses how broader obstacles affect outcomes. Delaying discharge to conserve resources prioritizes organizational efficiency over timely access to care for the client, which isn’t advocacy.