Assertive Community Treatment

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence-based practice that improves outcomes for people with severe mental illness who are most at-risk of psychiatric crisis and hospitalization and involvement in the criminal justice system. ACT is one of the oldest and most widely researched evidence-based practices in behavioral healthcare for people with severe mental illness.

ACT is a multidisciplinary team approach with assertive outreach in the community. The consistent, caring, person-centered relationships have a positive effect upon outcomes and quality of life. Research shows that ACT reduces hospitalization, increases housing stability, and improves quality of life for people with the most severe symptoms of mental illness. ACT may also reduce staff burnout and increase job satisfaction, cost effectiveness, and client satisfaction.

ACT and Integrated ACT-IDDT

Our center provides technical assistance (consulting, training and fidelity evaluation) to behavioral healthcare organizations in Ohio and other states that are providing ACT services, plan to implement ACT services, and wish to integrate ACT with Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), the evidence-based practice for people with severe mental illness and addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Our center has provided technical assistance for ACT and integrated ACT-IDDT in 22 states and the Netherlands.

State of Ohio

We provide technical-assistance services (consulting, training, and fidelity evaluation) for ACT and ACT-IDDT to behavioral healthcare organizations in Ohio with support from the Ohio Department of Medicaid.

National Conferences

Our consultants and trainers have been invited guest presenters about ACT and integrated ACT-IDDT at numerous conferences and training events in the United States. We have also presented at conferences and other events in Spain, the Netherlands and Australia, and have hosted implementers from the Netherlands, England and Norway.

Resources and Tools

The Center for Evidence-Based Practices (CEBP) has developed a number of resources to help with the implementation of Assertive Community Treatment, including CEBP-produced posters, guides, booklets, binder resources, and videos, as well as additional articles and recommendations for further reading.

Explore all of our resources

Related Stories

  • Ohio Expands Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) with Training Series, Learning Communities from Center for EBPs
  • Ohio Invests in Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) to Reduce Homelessness, Hospitalization for People with Severe Mental Illness
  • Center Shares Lessons Learned about Addiction, Mental Illness, Primary Health, ACT with European Collaborators