Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) provides an integrated set of other evidenced-based treatment, rehabilitation, case management, and support services delivered by a mobile, multidisciplinary mental health treatment team. The purpose of ACT is to deliver comprehensive and effective services to individuals who are diagnosed with severe mental illness and whose needs have not been well met by more traditional service delivery approaches. Typically, recipients served by ACT have a serious and persistent psychiatric disorder and a treatment history that has been characterized by frequent use of psychiatric hospitalization and emergency rooms, involvement with the criminal justice system, alcohol/substance abuse, and lack of engagement in traditional outpatient services. Admission to ACT is managed through a local single point of access process (SPOA). Inpatient psychiatric units, mental health outpatient programs and other referral sources submit referrals for ACT services to the Single Point of Access Unit at the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disabilities, 60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Uniondale, New York 11553.
The services provided by ACT include a full range of clinical treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation, and community support services designed to promote recovery by improving psychiatric symptoms, preventing relapse, teaching skills, providing direct assistance and securing community resources necessary for successful functioning in work, school, home and social relationships. Among the services provided are:
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