Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence based model for providing comprehensive community-based treatment to person with severe and persistent mental illness.  The Headwaters ACT Team is a multidisciplinary group organized as mobile mental health service providers.

ACT is a way of delivering a full range of services to people who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness.

Elements of ACT:

-With ACT, consumers are hospitalized less often and have more stable housing

-Team members are involved and familiar with all consumers

-The team works one on one with individual clients and families

-Cultural respect and guidance is offered by a Cultural Coordinator

With ACT, consumers get help taking care of their basic needs – taking medications, cooking and many other individual needs.  The ACT team helps consumers find housing, apply for food stamps, go back to school, or get a job.

How does ACT work?

A Team Approach:  An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), RN, licensed mental health professionals, mental health practitioners, an employment specialist, a peer support specialist, a cultural coordinator, and a substance abuse specialist join together on ACT teams to give consumers ongoing, individualized care.

Services Provided Where They are Needed:  Consumers receive ACT services in their homes, where they work, and in other settings in the community where problems occur or where support is needed.

Personalized Care:  ACT teams work with relatively small numbers of people, those in greatest need of intensive services to live independently in the community.

Time-Unlimited Support:  ACT teams give consumers services and support they need for as long as they need them.

Continuous Care:  ACT team members work regularly with frequency of services that can range from several contacts a day to once a week or less depending on the need of the client.

Flexible Care:  ACT teams fit their schedules around the needs of the consumers.

Comprehensive Care:  ACT teams provide an array of services to help meet consumer needs, including case management, nursing, representative payor services, vocational, medication management, alcohol and drug services and skill building.