Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) for Recovery

Contacts:

Lisa Zurolo, LCSW, Behavioral Health Clinical Manager, 860-418-6679, Lisa.Zurolo@ct.gov

Erika Echevarria, LCSW, Behavioral Health Clinical Manager, 860-418-6886, Erika.Echevarria@ct.gov

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence-based practice that uses a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive services to address the needs of persons with serious behavioral health issues and other co-morbid disorders. ACT services are most effective for individuals with serious behavioral health issues who have significant functional impairments, continuing high service needs, who often struggle connecting with and navigating a complex treatment system and have difficulty transferring learning across environments. There are a total of 10 ACT teams statewide in CT.

ACT Teams deliver highly responsive, individualized, recovery-based and rehabilitative services in the client’s natural environment. The services are designed to respond to the clients’ personal goals and needs and are provided with appropriate timing and intensity. Services are offered within a team approach where individuals with different areas of expertise share responsibility for the provision of services, integrating care, and providing a wide range of interventions. ACT offers recovery oriented services, promotes self-determination and respects individuals served as experts in their own recovery. The primary emphasis of ACT is to support person-centered recovery goals, assisting individuals in becoming more self-sufficient, more active in their communities, obtaining competitive employment and achieving their personally meaningful goals and life roles.

ACT research has shown: reduced hospital stays, higher level of housing stability, improved symptom management and social functioning, higher quality of life and increase satisfaction for the person & family (SAMHSA, ACT EBT Practice KIT,2008).

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is offered in all ACT Teams.  Staff have been trained to provide a community-based engagement approached focused on MAT, specifically the use of naltrexone, buprenorphine, and other approved medications for Substance Use Disorders (SUD), including Opioid Use Disorders, Alcohol Use Disorders, and Nicotine Use Disorders. ACT staff screen, prescribe and support individuals to engage in MAT and self-help recovery groups.

• ACT Team Leaders Directory (pdf)
• 2023 ACT Statewide Team Leaders Meeting Schedule (pdf)

1. Capitol Region Mental Health Center
2. Community Health Resources (CHR) - Manchester
3. Community Health Resources (CHR) - Enfield
4. Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA)
5. Connecticut Mental Health Center
6. River Valley Services
7. InterCommunity Mental Health Group
8. Southeast Mental Health Authority
9. Southwest CT Mental Health System - Bridgeport
10. Western CT Mental Health Network - Waterbury

• SAMHSA ACT Information
• National ACT Stakeholder Listserv: http://www.institutebestpractices.org/community/?wpforo=signin