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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Description: As we learn more about the importance of involving consumers in their own treatment, we are also learning how to do it better. A recent journal article looked at the possibility of combining Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) with recovery-oriented treatment, and what this means for program standards.
Content: In this article, Salyers and Tsemberis examine the possibility of incorporating recovery-oriented treatment into an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model while maintaining close fidelity to the model. ACT is a widely used practice originally created to reduce inpatient hospital stays by providing community support to individuals with mental health issues. It has since been used with people experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use problems, and those experiencing long-term homelessness.

A key feature of ACT is the strict use of fidelity standards, which tell evaluators how closely a program sticks to the original model. Using practices such as recovery-oriented treatment as part of an ACT model runs the risk of violating some fidelity standards. Salyers and Tsemberis explore the similarities and differences between the two models and question if fidelity standards are useful in the adoption of recovery-oriented treatment. Although both practices have the same ultimate goal – to involve consumers in their own treatment – there are some basic differences between them that need to be addressed.

The authors use the Dartmouth Assertive Community Treatment Scale (DACTS), which outlines 28 items related to ACT fidelity, to examine fidelity and explore the possible implications of integrating the two models. The authors conclude that despite differences, it would be possible to integrate recovery-oriented treatment into ACT and retain fidelity, as long as certain practices are in place. This article addresses the evolving nature of the ACT model and new approaches for meeting the needs of individuals experiencing long-term homelessness.

(HRC)

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Type of Resource: Journal
   
 
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