Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is one of the oldest, most widely researched, and effective, evidence-based practices for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders. ACT was created for people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders or bipolar disorder who are experiencing challenges in role functioning that result in more frequent use of higher intensity services (inpatient, jail, mobile crisis).
ACT is a service delivery model that is integrated, individualized, and recovery-oriented. Operated by a transdisciplinary team, the team works together to provide all needed behavioral health services through frequent and intensive contacts and with a low staff-to-client ratio (maximum of 1:10 ratio).
Services provided by ACT include case management, nursing, psychiatry, employment and educational services, psychiatric rehabilitation, substance use disorder services, peer support, and more. Most services provided are in the community versus traditional office-based visits and are available 24/7.
The State of Maryland currently has approximately 25 Assertive Community Treatment teams that have met the fidelity threshold as determined by the Behavioral Health Administration.
The Evidence-Based Practice Center at University of Maryland, Baltimore provides state-wide ACT events and training, as well as individual consultation for teams. For more information, contact Katie Kirk, ACT Consultant-Trainer, at: kkirk@som.umaryland.edu.
Resources ACT Availability Across Maryland ACT Outcome Reporting in Maryland
The Evidence-Based Practice Center (EBPC) of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry is authorized as a sponsor of Continuing Education Units. The EBPC maintains responsibility for this program. Please pay attention to the following distinctions regarding CEUs found at the end of each title.
The Evidence-Based Practice Center/ the Training Center of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry provides training that meets the criteria for Continuing Education Credits (Category I) for Social Workers/ Continuing Education (CE) for Psychologists/ and Continuing Education Units (Category A) for Professional Counselors and Therapists and Alcohol and Drug Counselors.
Please note that you must log in through the webinar platform to be eligible for a certificate. Participants who call-in-only are not eligible for CEUs or COAs.
BHA sponsors this training free of charge to eligible Maryland-based provider staff through the University of Maryland School of Medicine Training and Evidence-Based Practice Centers. We are committed to making these trainings accessible to all eligible providers.