CBHCM Housing Stability and Social Determinants of Health

Question 1

The 'Housing First' model in behavioral health is based on which core principle?

Accepted Answer

Permanent, stable housing is a basic right and should be provided without treatment compliance prerequisites

Answer

Housing First holds that stable housing is a fundamental need. Research shows providing immediate permanent housing — without preconditions like sobriety or treatment participation — improves housing retention, mental health outcomes, and ultimately increases voluntary treatment engagement.

Question 2

Social determinants of health (SDOH) most directly associated with poor behavioral health outcomes include:

Accepted Answer

Poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of social support

Answer

SDOH are the non-medical conditions in which people live, work, and age. Poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, unemployment, and social isolation are strongly and consistently associated with higher rates of mental health disorders and substance use disorders.

Question 3

A case manager is working with a chronically homeless client with schizophrenia who refuses all psychiatric treatment. The BEST initial approach is to:

Accepted Answer

Prioritize securing stable housing while continuing to build rapport around mental health treatment

Answer

Consistent with the Housing First model, securing stable housing first provides the foundation from which treatment engagement can develop over time. Requiring treatment compliance as a housing prerequisite is both ineffective and ethically problematic for this population.

Question 4

Supportive housing is BEST defined as:

Accepted Answer

Permanent, affordable housing linked to voluntary and flexible support services

Answer

Supportive housing combines permanent, affordable housing with voluntary support services (case management, mental health, substance use treatment) that tenants may choose to use. It is not a treatment program — tenants have standard tenant rights and services are not conditions of tenancy.

Question 5

When conducting a housing assessment for a client with serious mental illness, the case manager should assess all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Whether the client's family members have criminal records

Answer

Housing assessments should focus on the client's own history, preferences, and barriers. Running background checks on family members who are not part of the housing application is outside the case manager's scope and could constitute an unjustified privacy violation.

(CBHCM) Certified Behavioral Health Case Manager Practice Test

(CBHCM) Certified Behavioral Health Case Manager Practice Test

CBHCM Housing Stability and Social Determinants of Health