Critical Time Intervention (CTI) is a time-limited evidence-based practice providing specialized case management interventions to society’s most vulnerable individuals during periods of transition. To facilitate community integration and continuity of care, the CTI model blends the delivery of intensive supports that meet immediate client needs with assistance aimed at facilitating long-term community integration and continuity of care.
Core tasks of CTI use targeted goal-setting broken down into 3-month phases to prioritize transition-related needs. It identifies and addresses case management tasks that can be completed within the time-limited service. CTI links consumers to longer-term professional and community-based supports that will continue after the service is completed. This method also fosters communication between all the consumers’ support teams, including interdisciplinary professionals and natural supports (families, friends, etc.).
For a variety of reasons, change is hard for everyone.
CTI may benefit Maryland Public Behavioral Health System (PBHS) programs serving individuals transitioning from a number of situations.
At this time, we offer a two-day training designed to give providers a basic introduction to CTI and ideas for implementing lessons learned from this Evidence-Based Practice into their work. Eligible participants include Maryland community-based providers of services that include case-management functions that fall under the umbrella of psychiatric rehabilitation i.e. services that help people navigate behavioral health symptoms and the impacts of those symptoms on their ability to meet their basic needs and navigate significant life transitions. These transitions may include moving from homelessness to housed or to community-based services from more structured setting (hospitals, incarceration, residential rehabilitation settings, recovery residences, or other inpatient treatment).
Training Objectives include:
Note: This training provides an overview and orientation to CTI-informed practice that may improve outcomes for community-based providers. Full implementation of the CTI model involves ongoing training and consultation that goes beyond the scope of this series and is only available to programs pre-approved by the Behavioral Health Administration under select contracts and service types.
Access the EBPC Learning Management System (LMS) to register:
Maryland PBHS providers interested in implementing the CTI model may be eligible to obtain training and consultation free of charge through the Maryland Evidence Based Practice Center. To learn more, contact the EBPC Consultant Trainer, Kris Wright, M.S. LCPC, at kris.wright@som.umaryland.edu.
For new programs seeking to better serve consumers in transition, and for existing Case Management programs looking to enhance their services and outcomes, find more information about the CTI model here:
Maryland’s application of CTI is based on collaboration and study with leadership at CACTI, a center developed to support the broad dissemination of CTI, to ensure quality and fidelity in its implementation. Through this Global Network, the Center promotes collaboration among CTI practitioners, trainers, and researchers on promising adaptations and enhancements to the model.
This article published in The Journal of Primary Prevention is about the evidence supporting the efficacy of CTI for preventing homelessness in high risk groups.
From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHASA), review their recommendations for implementing empirically supported practices addressing homelessness in vulnerable populations including those with behavioral health concerns.
Learn more about these strategies >
The EBPC regularly schedules technical assistance sessions for Maryland providers seeking help with CTI. To find out about upcoming sessions, click the button below.