Penndel Mental Health Center

Assertive Community Treatment

Admission Criteria

  • Adults aged 18 or older AND
  • Difficulty effectively utilizing traditional case management or office-based outpatient services AND
  • Diagnosis of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder such as schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder AND
  • At least two of the following:
  • Severe and persistent major symptoms (ex: affective, psychotic, suicidal)
  • Co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders
  • Literally homeless, imminent risk of being homeless, or residing in unsafe housing

How do I refer someone to this service?

If you would like to make a referral to Penndel Mental Health Center’s ACT program or are requesting an ACT referral packet, please email: ACT_Referral@penndelmhc.org.

Within 7 days, a decision will be made to:

  • Meet the individual to complete assessment and determine whether the individual will be accepted into our ACT program OR
  • Gather more information to determine eligibility OR
  • Deny a referral that does not meet eligibility criteria OR
  • Add the individual to the ACT waitlist (if no ACT slots are currently available).
  • Meet with the individual to complete an assessment and determine whether the individual will be accepted into the program OR
  • Gather more information to determine eligibility OR
  • Deny a referral that does not meet eligibility criteria OR
  • Add the individual to the ACT waitlist (if no spots are currently available)

What ACT is not

  • A housing service. Those who are facing literal homelessness are encourage to complete referral through Housing Link at 1-800-810-4434
  • A transportation service
  • A medical program
  • Designed for individuals with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder, an intellectual disability, borderline personality disorder or individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

What is Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)?

ACT- Assertive Community Treatment – a voluntary evidence-based program designed for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness.

ACT uses a team approach. All Individuals will receive intensive services from multiple team members each month, with an average of two to three services per week depending on the client’s needs.

ACT closely collaborates with inpatient units, residential facilities, and outpatient medical providers to optimize continuity of care.

ACT is an integrated team. The team consists of a psychiatrist, nurses, peer support specialist, therapists, vocational specialist, substance abuse specialist, and housing specialist.

ACT focuses on community integration with most services, including psychiatry and nursing, being provided in the individual’s home or community.

Services Offered

ACT uses a multi-disciplinary team approach to provide services for as long as they are needed. The team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ACT provides all needed behavioral health services and allows for the flexibility to adjust services to meet an individual’s needs as they change.

Services include:

  • Individual and group therapies and social groups
  • Wellness activities, medication management and nursing support
  • Case management
  • Supported employment and education
  • Assistance finding and keeping housing
  • Substance abuse support
  • Peer support
  • Support, education, and skill building for both individuals and their families
  • Support during crisis

Since ACT is an evidenced-based integrated treatment model, almost all services, including psychiatry, are provided by the ACT team. All individual’s receiving ACT are expected to receive their medication management and psychiatric supports from the attending ACT psychiatrist.

 

ACT uses a multi-disciplinary team approach to provide services for as long as they are needed. The team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ACT provides all needed behavioral health services and allows for the flexibility to adjust services to meet an individual’s needs as they change.

Copyright

© 2020 Penndel Mental Health Center