Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a way of delivering a full range of services to people who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness. ACT’s goal is to give consumers adequate community care and to help them have a life that is not dominated by their mental illness.
With ACT, consumers get help taking care of all their needs to maintain a happy, healthy and safe life in the community. This includes a full range of services, such as medication management, medical oversight, therapy, drug and alcohol treatment, peer support, vocational and educational counseling, housing support, crisis services and any other services that would be beneficial and desired by the consumer.
The ACT Model:
A team approach: A team is made up of an interdisciplinary group of professionals who join together to give consumers ongoing individualized care. They are: Team Leader * Psychiatrist * two Registered Nurses * Mental Health Professional * Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor * Vocational Specialist * Certified Peer Specialist * Clinical Case Manager.
Demonstrated success: ACT is an evidence-based approach to treatment with research demonstrating success in decreased hospitalization rates, increased housing stability and increased quality of life for individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness.
Services are provided where they are needed: Consumers receive ACT services in their homes, where they work and other settings in the community where support is needed and desired.
Personalized care: The ACT team works with low staff to consumer ratios. This allows treatment to increase or decrease in intensity and frequency rapidly based on consumer need. Treatment is individualized based on each individual consumer’s needs.
Unlimited time support: Services and supports are provided for as long as a consumer is in need.
Continuous care: All ACT team members work regularly with each consumer.
Support with medication: ACT provides medication delivery for individuals in need of additional support with medication consistency.
Evidence based practices: ACT utilizes evidence-based treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy.
Flexible care: The ACT team accommodates the consumer’s schedule, providing services on weekends, evenings and holidays.
Comprehensive care: An array of services is provided by the ACT team to help meet consumer needs. ACT provides direct provision of mental health services by the team. If consumers are in need of services in addition to ACT, the ACT team takes responsibility for case management and service coordination related to transition, treatment and discharge planning.
Services provided when needed: Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Someone is always available to handle emergencies.
Admission Criteria for ACT:
Individuals with a primary diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Psychotic Disorders or Chronic Major Mood Disorders are eligible for ACT services.
Individuals may also have one or both of the following:
- Two or more psychiatric hospitalizations in the past year, discharge from a state hospital in the past year, psychiatric hospitalization of over 180 days in the past year, five face to face encounters with Emergency Services or difficulty engaging in traditional community-based services.
- Three of the following: co-occurring substance use disorder; history of life-threatening suicide or self-harm; history of physical harm or real potential of physical harm to others; lack of support system; difficulty following a treatment plan that leads to instability; psychotic or mood symptoms that interfere with daily functioning; threats of physical harm to others in the past two years; current homelessness or risk of homelessness.
Individuals must also qualify for Community Care Behavioral Health coverage. For more information, go to: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) or Community Treatment Team (CTT): HealthChoices Members – Community Care (ccbh.com)
ACT is not intended for:
Individuals with a primary diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, or Personality Disorder.
