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For individuals struggling with severe mental illness, Anuvia’s Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) provides a vital lifeline. As part of our role as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), we deliver psychiatric care, substance use treatment, and other community mental health services to help clients manage their conditions and build meaningful lives.

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What is Assertive Community Treatment?

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a comprehensive, community-based philosophy of care designed to support individuals with severe mental illnesses. Unlike traditional models that often rely on institutionalization, ACT delivers services directly in the community, offering more accessible and inclusive support.

The core of ACT is its multidisciplinary team, which includes psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and other specialists who work collaboratively to provide community mental health services. This team approach ensures that each individual’s unique needs are met.

At Anuvia, ACT focuses on several key objectives:

  1. Community Integration: Helping individuals become active, engaged members of their community by connecting them with local resources.
  2. Rehabilitation: Assisting individuals in developing essential life skills and coping mechanisms to enhance their independence.
  3. Reducing Hospitalization: Providing continuous, community-based support to manage symptoms, reduce crises, and prevent frequent hospital visits.
  4. Preventing Homelessness: Offering practical assistance to secure and maintain stable housing.

By prioritizing these goals, Anuvia’s mental health treatment teams improve the quality of life for some of our community’s most vulnerable individuals.

Who is Best Served by ACT?

The ACT model is particularly beneficial for individuals who:

  • Have been diagnosed with severe mental illness or who show symptoms of severe mental illness
  • Have complex needs, such as overlapping physical and mental health conditions
  • Frequently use emergency rooms or are frequently hospitalized because of their mental health conditions
  • Are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of losing housing
  • Struggle to attend regular outpatient appointments due to their mental health symptoms or other barriers such as transportation
  • Have minimal social or family support
  • Have experienced significant trauma or have complex needs related to their past experiences

Assertive Community Treatment Services

By offering a wide range of community mental health services, ACT empowers individuals to achieve their personal goals and build meaningful connections. Examples of services offered by our mental health treatment teams include:

Comprehensive Assessments & Follow-Ups

When a new client enters the ACT program, an initial assessment is performed to gather information about their psychiatric history, current symptoms, and psychosocial factors. From there, specialists tailor treatments to best support the client and conduct follow-up assessments to monitor progress.

Psychiatric Care

Access to psychiatric care is a core component of ACT. Psychiatric specialists diagnose mental health conditions, manage medications, and provide ongoing support.

Health Services Coordination

Individuals with severe mental illness often face the added challenge of managing chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, hypertension, and hepatitis C. By organizing and integrating care across providers, ACT ensures comprehensive medical support.

Substance Use Treatment

Approximately half of those with a mental illness will also face a substance use disorder at some point in their lives. Recognizing this connection, substance use treatment is designed to help individuals manage their substance use while simultaneously addressing their underlying mental health needs.

Intensive Case Management

Case managers play a crucial role in helping individuals manage day-to-day challenges and connect with necessary resources, from psychiatric care to social services.

Personal Care & Skills Training

Personal care and skills training focuses on essential competencies such as cooking, managing personal hygiene, and building and maintaining relationships. Helping clients build these skills helps them live independently.

Housing Assistance

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 25 to 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness also have a severe mental illness. To support clients in finding and maintaining housing, ACT helps locate affordable housing and secure rental assistance.

Education Assistance

Education assistance focuses on helping individuals pursue personal goals and find stable employment. This support may include help obtaining high school diplomas/GEDs or pursuing higher education or vocational training.

Employment Support

Employment support is another critical service provided by ACT. This includes job training, job search assistance, and ongoing support once employment is secured. By helping individuals maintain meaningful employment, ACT promotes a sense of purpose and achievement.

Benefits Assistance

ACT provides assistance in applying for and managing public benefits such as financial assistance, healthcare coverage, and other critical resources.

Education on Mental Health & Medication Management

To empower clients to take an active role in treatment, individuals receive guidance on understanding their conditions, the importance of medication adherence, and strategies for managing symptoms.

Anuvia’s Approach to Assertive Community Treatment

At Anuvia, the primary goal of our ACT program is to help the clients in our care thrive. Our mental health treatment teams work toward this goal collaboratively; we believe we all have a shared responsibility to provide personalized, integrated care that addresses each individual’s unique needs.

In support of this mission, we keep our staff-to-client ratio low. A lighter caseload allows us to adapt quickly to evolving circumstances, ensuring every individual receives the specialized support necessary for recovery.

Where is Assertive Community Treatment Offered

Anuvia’s ACT services are available wherever people need them most, whether that be at home, at work, or in the community. Our mental health treatment teams meet clients where they are, offering comprehensive support without judgment.

Services are also available 24/7/365. Around-the-clock availability is crucial for providing consistent care and avoiding hospitalizations. Additionally, we don’t impose time limits on services. Support continues for as long as it is needed, allowing individuals to progress at their own pace.

The ACT Team

At Anuvia, our mental health treatment teams consist of psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and other specialists committed to delivering compassionate care. Every day, the ACTT meets to review each individual’s progress, discuss challenges, and adjust treatment plans as needed. These meetings help team members meet the evolving needs of clients.

Consistent care is another hallmark of our program. By building relationships with clients, team members become familiar with each person’s needs and preferences. This continuity helps foster trust and stability, contributing to more effective care.

Family Involvement

Family involvement is a key aspect of our model. Recognizing a loved one’s role in recovery, families are encouraged to help develop treatment plans and learn how to best support individuals with behavioral health needs.

We also strive to improve family relationships by offering guidance on effective communication and conflict resolution. This collaborative approach helps create a more stable and understanding home environment for clients in our care.

Benefits of Assertive Community Treatment

When an individual is struggling with severe mental illness, a compassionate and comprehensive treatment model can make all the difference. ACT is proven to:

Reduce Hospitalizations

Studies show that ACT significantly decreases the frequency of psychiatric hospitalizations by managing crises and providing proactive support.

Improve Symptom Management

The program’s comprehensive and continuous care helps participants manage mental health conditions and reduce the severity of symptoms.

Enhance Quality of Life

ACT improves overall quality of life by supporting individuals in achieving personal goals, enhancing daily functioning, and promoting greater independence.

Support Engagement in Treatment

ACT clients are more likely to adhere to treatment plans compared to those participating in more traditional treatment models.

Increase Housing Stability

By providing housing assistance, ACT significantly reduces homelessness among individuals with severe mental illness.

Additional Services

As a CCBHC, we offer a range of community mental health services, including but not limited to:

Mental Health Services

For individuals struggling with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, Anuvia provides mental health counseling through tele-health.
Learn More

Outpatient Treatment

Our outpatient treatment program provides flexible, personalized care to support your recovery while allowing you to maintain daily routines.
Learn More

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment at Anuvia offers around-the-clock care for individuals facing severe substance use disorders.
Learn More

Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Psychosocial rehabilitation helps individuals with serious mental illness develop essential skills for community living, learning, and working.
Learn More

Support Groups

Our support groups provide a collaborative environment where individuals can connect with others, share experiences, and gain strength from community support.
Learn More

Assertive Community Treatment FAQs

What is the purpose of Assertive Community Treatment?

The primary purpose of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is to provide comprehensive, community-based support for individuals with severe mental illness.

What are Assertive Community Treatment Teams?

Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACTT) are multidisciplinary groups composed of psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, case managers, and other specialists. Each team member contributes their expertise to create and implement individualized treatment plans.

How long does Assertive Community Treatment last?

Assertive Community Treatment is designed to be a long-term intervention, lasting as long as needed to support recovery.

How do I find an Assertive Community Treatment program?

To find an Assertive Community Treatment program near you, contact local mental health organizations, community health centers, or hospitals. Online resources, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website, can also help you locate ACT programs and other mental health services.

Access Community Mental Health Services Today

The ACTT at Anuvia offers a lifeline for individuals struggling with severe mental illness. By providing a suite of community mental health services, we ensure that clients receive the care needed to thrive. To learn more about the transformative power of our comprehensive approach, contact us online or call 704-376-7447.

Resources

  1. Wagner EH, Austin BT, Davis C, Hindmarsh M, Schaefer J, Bonomi A. Improving Chronic Illness Care: Translating Evidence into Action. 2001. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.20.6.64
  2. National Institutes on Drug Abuse. Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report. 2020 April. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK571451/
  3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Homelessness Programs and Resources. 2023 December. https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources
  4. Bond, G.R., Drake, R.E., Mueser, K.T. et al. Assertive Community Treatment for People with Severe Mental Illness. 2001. https://doi.org/10.2165/00115677-200109030-00003
  5. Ben-Porath, D. D., Peterson, G., & Piskur, C. Effectiveness of and Consumer Satisfaction With an Assertive Community Treatment Program for the Severely Mentally Ill: A 3-Year Follow-Up. Psychological Services. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1037/1541-1559.1.1.40
  6. Coldwell CM, Bender WS. The Effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment for Homeless Populations with Severe Mental Illness: A Meta-Analysis. 2007. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2007.164.3.393