Assertive Community Treatment
Assertive community treatment is for people who experience the most severe symptoms of mental illness. Due to the severity of symptoms, people who receive assertive community treatment services often have problems taking care of even their most basic needs. Substance abuse, homelessness, and problems with the legal system are not uncommon. The goal of assertive community treatment is to help people stay out of the hospital and develop skills for living in the community so that their lives are not driven by having a mental illness. Assertive community treatment offers services customized to the person. These services address needs related to managing symptoms, housing, finances, employment, medical care, substance abuse, family life, and activities of daily living. Some important features of assertive community treatment programs are: Services are provided by a team of practitioners so that people can get a variety of services from the same staff members. Services are available whenever and where ever they are needed. Teams work with people in community settings and are available 24-hours a day. There are no time limits on how long a person can receive services. Services are provided for as long as they are wanted and needed.