Course Summary
Practice Level: Intermediate
In 2022, there were 15.4 million individuals living with a serious mental illness (SMI; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2023). It can be difficult for these individuals to receive equitable and effective treatment as they face barriers to mental health care due to issues such as discrimination, limited access, and poverty. This learning material examines Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), a care model designed for individuals with SMI who are at particular risk for hospitalization, homelessness, criminal justice system involvement, and psychiatric crises. It strives to remove barriers to care by providing services that are multifaceted and include interventions that are person-centered, culturally responsive, trans-disciplinary, and recovery-oriented. Mental health providers play a vital role in the ACT team. They can assist individuals that have SMI in managing their mental illness and possible co-occurring disorders and support client efforts towards their recovery goals. This learning material is based on SAMHSA’s Maintaining Fidelity to ACT: Current Issues and Innovation in Implementation and explores clinical considerations when implementing ACT. The purpose of this course is to help social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors understand what is needed for a team to effectively implement ACT.
Clinicians can use this learning material to review the principles of ACT and explore issues that affect ACT teams. Other topics examined in this learning material include changes made to ACT since 2008, issues that could affect the sustainability of ACT, and possible modifications to ACT programming for special populations.
Course Format
This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test.
Learning Objectives
- Identify key aspects of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) implementation, including fundamental principles, priorities, and evaluation of an ACT program.
- Recognize appropriate responses to current issues and challenges that may affect the implementation and sustainability of ACT.
- Describe adaptations made to ACT programming for specific populations.
Course Syllabus
- Chapter 1. Setting the State for the Update to the 2008 ACT Toolkit
- Chapter 2. Contemporary Issues in Act Implementation
- Chapter 3. Extending the ACT Model: What the Research Tells Us
- Appendices
- References
Authors
SAMHSA
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA leads public health efforts that advance the behavioral health of the nation. On samhsa.gov SAMHSA states that its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on communities in America.
William A. Cook, PhD
William A. Cook, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who worked for 15 years in private practice in Montana before leaving his practice to work full time as theDirector of CE4Less. He earned his doctorate degree from Texas A&M University, and focused much of his psychology practice in the area of child and family counseling, as well as psychological testing.
Accreditation Approval Statements
CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.
Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.
CE4Less.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6991. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE4Less.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Level Education Group, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0835.
We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.
