Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
Assertive Community Treatment is an evidenced-based practice that offers treatment, rehabilitation, and community integration services to individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI). ACT uses a person-centered, recovery-based approach to care.
ACT services include:
- assertive outreach
- mental health treatment
- vocational support
- integrated dual disorder treatment
- family education
- wellness skills
- community linkages
- peer support
Services are provided by a mobile, multi-disciplinary team in community settings. The goal of ACT services is to assist individuals in achieving their meaningful goals and life roles.
ACT Guidance Documents
- ACT Program Guidelines (updated 11/2023)
- ACT and HH Updated Instruction 2019
- Inpatient Setting Continuity of Care Expectations for ACT Individuals
- ACT Utilization Management Guidance (updated 3/2023)
- Service Dollar Guidance
- ACT Standards of Care (reissued 2023)
- ACT Billing Memo 8/29/19
- ACT Collateral Update Memo 9/1/19
- Training Memo (updated 4/2023)
- IPS Initiative Guidance for ACT and CORE PSR
How to access ACT Services
Individual referrals for ACT services may be made by anyone with the information to complete the ACT referral packet, and can include the following:
- the individual, on his or her own behalf
- family member
- mental health agency or hospital
- mental health service provider
- police
- court system
The process and paperwork needed for an ACT referral can vary by county. ACT services are accessed through the Single Point of Access (SPOA) process, which can also vary by county.
Individuals who reside:
- In the five boroughs of New York City:
- In any county outside of the five boroughs of New York City:
There is one SPOA that serves the five boroughs. To obtain the referral form, click on the link for the Single Point of Access (SPOA) Care Coordination/ACT Programs OR you can call or email to the following contact info: spoa@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-7258.
Contact the county mental health services office in the county where the individual resides for detailed referral information. To find the contact information of the Office of the County Director for a specific county, go to County / New York City Directory.
Links to Related Websites
OMH Tableau Data Visualizations – Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Reports - Presents information about individuals served by the New York State ACT program. Comparisons shown between ACT teams, OMH regions and New York State.
New York State ACT Institute - The New York State ACT Institute mission is to provide training, support, and technical assistance to ensure the consistent and effective implementation and continued adherence to the practice of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and other Evidence Based Practices (EBP) by ACT teams in New York State. The ACT Institute is part of the Center for Practice Innovations, NYS Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University.
ACT Institute - ACT Training Curriculum - All ACT teams are required to complete trainings in the ACT Curriculum.
Assisted Outpatient Treatment Reports (AOT) - New York State's AOT program was developed to ensure that individuals with mental illness, and a history of hospitalizations or violence participate in community-based services appropriate to their needs. This link provides information collected on AOT recipients.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization and is dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families.
New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) - NYAPRS is a statewide coalition of people who use and/or provide recovery-oriented community-based services.
SAMHSA'S National Mental Health Information Center - The SAMHSA Assertive Community Treatment Toolkit and other resources are available at this site. The Toolkit contains information sheets for all stakeholders, videos, and workbooks and manuals for practitioners.
ACT Contacts