Jessica Miller, Benefits and Entitlements case manager

Social work wasn’t originally part of my plan. As an undergraduate, I studied biology and applied to medical school. After I didn’t get in and had graduated from KU, I chose to take a gap year to volunteer in AmeriCorps at a group home for juvenile boys in Kansas City. However, the children I worked with slowly melted my heart and I decided to start working at Bert Nash after my volunteer term ended in 2014.

My first position was at Bridges as a psychosocial worker where I learned more about the mental health field and soon found that I found my niche by working with others. I worked in the community for three years before taking my current role as a Benefits and Entitlements case manager in which I have worked in the past 2 ½ years.

Through the process of applying for benefits, we gather medical records and interview the client about their life and symptoms in order to build a case for the person to obtain benefits. It is through that process that I get to listen to people’s stories and give them hope for a better future by obtaining insurance and income security. Not having insurance is a barrier for treatment due to not being able to get it in the first place as well as being burdened with debt if they choose to seek treatment with no payer source. Additionally, most of the clients we work with also are homeless, which further impacts their ability to get treatment. The work that our team does not only gives them hope but a firm foundation that they can stand on and get the treatment they need.

I am proud of the clients whom I have worked with, including those that have been chronically homeless for several years, and through the benefits process, they were able to not only seek treatment but establish housing and move onto the path to recovery. During these unforeseen times, I have been extremely proud of my team as we have continued to work with our clients to help them and have had success in helping clients get income and insurance even during this trying time. 

One of the best feelings in the world is telling a client that they finally have insurance and/or an income source. At times, a person can spend several years and time doing this on their own, and our team is able to help them to accomplish these goals. I am very thankful to be a small part of a person’s path to recovery and helping them to setup the necessary services and assistance they need. By listening to people’s stories, it really gives them a voice and meaning to the life they have led. I am appreciative to be trusted with this information and to advocate for them to get the treatment and benefits they need.