Valley ACT
Assertive Community Treatment

Eligibility Requirements

ACT serves recipients who live with serious mental illness that impairs their functioning in their personal lives as well as the community. Priority is given to people with schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders (e.g., schizoaffective disorder), bipolar disorder, and/or major or chronic depression, because these illnesses more often cause long-term psychiatric disability. Priority is also given to individuals with continuous high service needs that are not being met in more traditional service settings. Individuals with a primary diagnosis of a personality disorder, substance abuse disorder, or intellectual/developmental disability are not appropriate for ACT.

a. Recipients with serious functional impairments demonstrate at least one of the following conditions:

• Inability to consistently perform practical daily living tasks required for basic adult functioning in the community without significant support or assistance from others such as friends, family, or relatives.
• Inability to be consistently employed at a self-sustaining level or inability to consistently carry out the activities of daily living.
• Inability to maintain a safe living situation (e.g., repeated evictions or loss of housing).

b. Recipients with continuous high service needs demonstrate one or more of the following conditions:

• Inability to participate or succeed in traditional, office-based services or case management.
• High use of acute psychiatric hospitals (two hospitalizations within one year, or one hospitalization of 60 days or more within one year).
• High use of psychiatric emergency or crisis services.
• Persistent serious mental health symptoms (e.g., affective, psychotic, suicidal, or significant impulse control issues).
• Co-existing substance abuse disorder (duration greater than 6 months).
• Current high risk or recent history of criminal justice involvement.
• Court ordered to participate in Assisted Outpatient Treatment.
• Inability to meet basic survival needs, or are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
• Residing in an inpatient setting or in a supervised community residence, but clinically assessed to be able to live in a more independent setting if intensive community services are provided.
• Currently living independently but clinically assessed to be at immediate risk of requiring a more restrictive living situation (e.g., community residence or psychiatric hospital) without intensive community services.

Valley ACT offers 24-hour wrap-around services as a ‘hospital without walls’ setting.

The services provided by ACT include a full range of clinical treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation, and community support services designed to promote recovery by managing and reducing harmful psychiatric symptoms, preventing relapse, teaching skills, providing direct assistance, and securing community resources necessary for successful functioning in work, school, home, and social relationships.

ACT Referral Form