Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Principles of ACT 

Assertive Community Treatment services adhere to certain essential standards and the following basic principles:

• PRIMARY PROVIDER OF SERVICES: The multidisciplinary make-up of each team (psychiatrist, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation, etc.) and the small consumer to staff ratio, helps the team provide most services with minimal referrals to other mental health programs or providers. The ACT team members share offices and their roles are interchangeable when providing services to ensure that services are not disrupted due to staff absence or turnover.

 

• SERVICES ARE PROVIDED OUT OF OFFICE: Services are provided within community settings, such as a person's own home and neighborhood, local restaurants, parks and nearby stores.

 

• HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES: Treatment plans, developed with the consumer, are based on individual strengths and needs, hopes and desires. The plans are modified as needed through an ongoing assessment and goal setting process.

 

• ASSERTIVE APPROACH: ACT team members are pro-active with consumers, assisting them to participate in and continue treatment, live independently, and recover from disability.

 

• LONG-TERM SERVICES: ACT services are intended to be long-term due to the severe impairments often associated with serious and persistent mental illness. The process of recovery often takes many years.

 

• EMPHASIS ON VOCATIONAL EXPECTATIONS The team encourages all consumers to participate in community employment and provides many vocational rehabilitation services directly. 

 

• SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES: The team coordinates and provides substance abuse services. 

 

• PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL SERVICES: Staff work with consumers and their family members to become collaborative partners in the treatment process. Consumers are taught about mental illness and the skills needed to better manage their illnesses and their lives. 

 

• FAMILY SUPPORT AND EDUCATION: With the active involvement of the consumer, ACT staff work to include the consumer's natural support systems (family, significant others) in treatment, educating them and including them as part of the ACT services. It is often necessary to help improve family relationships in order to reduce conflicts and increase consumer autonomy. 

 

• COMMUNITY INTEGRATION: ACT staff help clients become less socially isolated and more integrated into the community by encouraging participation in community activities and membership in organizations of their choice.

 

• ATTENTION TO HEALTH CARE NEEDS: The ACT team provides health education, access, and coordination of health care services.