DSW Candidate and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist California Baptist University Hesperia, California, United States
Overview: The Assertive Community Treatment is an evidence-based intervention model that has demonstrated effectiveness by using a multidisciplinary approach, frequent and intensive sessions, daily meetings, and 24/7 availability providing the opportunity for persons experiencing severe mental illness to reduce hospitalization stays, retain their housing after homelessness, and increase their medication compliance.Proposal text: The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model’s multidisciplinary approach, frequent and intensive sessions, daily meetings, reduced caseloads, and 24/7 availability provides an opportunity for persons experiencing severe mental illness to reduce their hospitalization stays, retain their housing after homelessness, and increase their medication compliance. ACT is an evidence-based intervention model that has demonstrated effectiveness when treating people with severe mental illness, especially those who are often challenging to engage in treatment services (Coldwell et al., 2007; Morse et al., 2020). While the treatment model requires more research to intentionally integrate physical health care into the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness, intentionally incorporate the individual’s faith or spiritual beliefs, and requires training for all persons who will engage the individual, the treatment model has still shown effectiveness in its historical and current applications. To truly care for the whole person and contribute to the individual's wellness, it is important to continue utilizing this treatment model with housing first initiatives while intentionally collaborating between physical and mental health care providers to ensure that persons experiencing severe mental illness and chronic homelessness can reintegrate fully into their community and be an active participant in their recovery.
Learning Objectives
Understand the benefits of the ACT model for individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness. Apply principles of the ACT model in their own practice. Understand the historical mistreatment of individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness.
